- Groupe M6

Annual Report
2005
42
44
48
50
52
53
53
54
54
56
Message from the Head of Programming
Internal productions
Information
Lifestyle magazines
Docu-reality
Entertainment-Youth
Drama
Sport
Digital channels
Complementary TV offer
Paris Première
W9
Téva
M6 Music Hits, M6 Music Black, M6 Music Rock
Fun TV
TF6
Série Club
Diversification
58
60
62
64
66
68
Publications, Discs and Events
M6 Éditions
Multimedia/Internet and Interactivity
Cinema and rights
Distance selling
Football Club des Girondins de Bordeaux
70
TPS
72
Financial Report
75 Management Report
123 Financial accounts
203 Legal information
Annual Report 2005
Digital channels
M6 Free to Air
Diversification
26
28
30
32
33
34
36
40
TPS
24
Message from the Chairman of the Management Board
Corporate governance
Group structure and management
Key dates
Shareholders’ notebook
2005 Key figures
2005 Highlights
Audiences
The advertising year
M6, a responsible Group
Financial Report
Contents
2
4
5
5
6
8
10
12
14
16
M6 Free to air
1
M6 Free to air
2
In 2005, the Group had the opportunity of both proving the efficiency of its profitable growth model and asserting its
development project for the coming years.
MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN
OF THE MANAGEMENT BOARD
Group financial performances established new record levels: Group turnover increased by 6.4% to € 1,274.7 million
(€ 1,079.9 million excluding TPS) while net profit grew by 21.3% to € 156.2 million.
Financial Report
TPS
Diversification
Digital channels
2005 was marked by great audience successes. M6 progressed in all audience categories (4+ year-old individuals)
and confirmed its status as France’s 2nd most popular TV network for housewives under 50 years old, with an average audience share of 19.1% that significantly grew compared to 2004.
High audience ratings and the relevance of the network positioning have attracted over an increasing number of
advertisers. The channel hosted 158 new brands in 2005. Gross advertising market share reached 23.2%, the historical record for the network since its creation. M6 succeeded in increasing its advertising revenues by 4.0% in a
stable market.
A group
in a position to seize
new opportunities
M6 is moving toward a wider, more family oriented programming and offers more news, more French drama and more
sport to its audience, as testified by the acquisition of the rights to 31 Football World Cup 2006 matches.
The strategy of content enhancement is being implemented within an audiovisual environment affected by profound
changes, with increasing numbers of households getting access to an ever growing number of channels and the multiplication of distribution mediums. Cable TV and satellite TV are developing in parallel to DSL and DTT. The latter
marks the end of the monopoly of pay TV on multi-channel offerings.
The Group was able to anticipate these developments by creating or acquiring new channels, in order to secure the
Group’s position. Thematic channels, such as Paris Première, Téva, M6 Music Hits/Black/Rock, Fun TV, TF6 and
Série Club again registered growth in 2005, both in terms of audience levels and revenues, notably in advertising
revenues (up 11.7%). In addition, M6 Group’s free-to-air DTT channel, W9, will progressively become a second freeto-air core asset for the Group, thanks to the investments made and to the increased penetration of digital terrestrial
television.
As regards TPS, 2005 was a decisive turning point. TPS and Canal+ Group shareholders took into consideration
developments in the pay TV economic environment, such as the multiplication of distribution platforms and access
mediums, as well as the emergence of new participants, and recognised the necessity of joining forces by signing an
agreement for the combination of the two entities. The objective of this agreement, subject to approval by competition authorities, is to give new and better prospects to the pay TV market.
M6 Group diversification operations experienced a dynamic year 2005. The objective of the strategy implemented
was to accelerate the development of operations, product distribution and content broadcasting channels, by focusing on capitalising on the M6 brand, Group’s skills and know-how, while at the same time strengthening the interactivity relationship with viewers, subscribers, net surfers and customers.
Annual Report 2005
2005 was a good year for the Group, both in terms of results and of successful investments that will generate future
profits, in an extremely rapidly changing audiovisual environment. The Group was primarily able to anticipate changes
in its environment and to establish the basis for strong, profitable and lasting growth thanks to three of its strengths,
which do not immediately come across in the figures of this annual report, but that I would like to highlight here: our
management culture, that leads us to take calculated risks; the unwavering support of a wider shareholder base; and
last but not least, the total involvement of the Group’s teams. These three strengths should enable us to take up the
numerous challenges facing the Group and its competitors in the coming years, including the opening up of the advertising market to distribution in 2007, the development of new broadcasting mediums and technological and competitive developments. More than ever, the Group is now in a position to seize new opportunities and valorise the significant growth margins and levers at its disposal.
Nicolas de Tavernost
Annual Report 2005
Digital channels
Diversification
As for all other diversification operations, the growth recorded by M6 Web reflected the relevance of the Group’s strategy built around its brand, by combining a powerful channel with proximity and interactivity. In addition, the Group
focused on strengthening the development prospects of the Interaction business, notably with the acquisition of the
Citato newspaper and the launch of the Auto Turbo magazine. In terms of audiovisual rights, the Group pursued its
strategy of “full rights” acquisition of films, thereby guaranteeing the control of content and distribution. Finally, efforts
made in 2004 in relation to Football Club Girondins de Bordeaux bore fruits, enabling the return to financial profitability. The Club is now equipped to fulfil its sports ambitions.
TPS
The Group created a Home Shopping business with a critical size, following the acquisition of Mistergooddeal.com, a
leading French e-commerce website. This multi-channel branch is an original combination of television and internet,
present on all powerful broadcasting and distribution mediums, and is ideally positioned to benefit from the fast-growing e-commerce industry.
Financial Report
Therefore, new growth drivers were launched or integrated in 2005. M6 Mobile by Orange marks the first steps of
the Group in the mobile phone industry, under the form of a highly successful partnership. Subscriber numbers reached 227,000 at 31 December 2005, which was double the initial forecast. This development is an opportunity for
the Group to get into a new industry, to position itself on a promising market and build a new source of growth and
profitability.
M6 Free to air
3
M6 Free to air
4
CORPORATE
GOVERNANCE
Executive Committee
Nicolas de Tavernost
Thomas Valentin
Éric d’Hotelans
Catherine Lenoble
Digital channels
Jean d’Arthuys
Philippe Bony
Deputy Head of Programming
Gilles Boyer
Director of Institutional Relations
Delphine Cazaux
Director of Organisation and Human Resources
Diversification
Nicolas Coppermann
Deputy Head of Programming
Jérôme Dillard
Director of Diversification operations
Michelle Garrigues-Fredet
Director of Information Systems
Financial Report
TPS
Management Board
Nicolas
de Tavernost
Chairman
Jean Golvan
Director of Research and Marketing
Thomas
Valentin
Deputy-Chairman
Head of
Programming
Catherine
Lenoble
Head of
Advertising
Éric
d’Hotelans
Deputy-Chairman
Head of
Administration
Jean
d’Arthuys
Head of
Digital
TV Operations
Jérôme Lefébure
Director of Finance and Administration
Nathalie-Camille Martin
Director of Legal Affairs
Émilie Pietrini
Director of Communication
Supervisory Board
Albert Frère
Chairman
Gérard Worms
Deputy-Chairman
Bernard Arnault
Vincent de Dorlodot
Axel Ganz
Constantin Lange
Jean Laurent
Guy de Panafieu
Remy Sautter
Yves-Thibault de Silguy
Ignace Van Meenen
Gerhard Zeiler
Régis Ravanas
Deputy Head of Programming
Michel Rey
Deputy Head of Administration and Secretary General
Marc Roussel
Director of Logistics and Technical Resources
Annual Report 2005
5
GROUP STRUCTURE
AND MANAGEMENT
C. Productions
Frédéric Mercier
Métropole Production
Nicolas Coppermann
W9 Productions
Alexis de Gemini
Studio 89 Productions
Florence Duhayot
M6 Films
Philippe Bony
M6 Thématique
Jean d’Arthuys
Paris Première
Jean d’Arthuys
Téva (51%)
Catherine Comte
W9
Pierre Robert
M6 Music Hits/Black/Rock
Nicolas Gicquel
Fun TV
Pierre Robert
TF6 (50%)
Frédéric de Vincelles / Fabrice Bailly
Série Club (50%)
Frédéric de Vincelles / Fabrice Bailly
PUBLICATION, DISCS
M6 Interactions
Jérôme Dillard
AND VIDEO
M6 Événements
François Vincent
INTERACTIVITY
M6 Web
Xavier Marvaldi
AUDIOVISUAL RIGHTS
Soc. Nouv. de Distribution (SND)
Thierry Desmichelle
Mandarin/SNC
Philippe Bony
TCM Droits audiovisuels
Anne Boudard
M6 Studio
Natalie Altmann
Home shopping Service
Jérôme Dillard
Mistergooddeal.com
Nicolas Berloty / Guillaume Clavel
M6 Foot (F. C. Girondins
Jean-Louis Triaud / Alain Deveseleer
DISTANCE SELLING
FOOTBALL
de Bordeaux)
TPS
Annual Report 2005
TPS (34 %)
Emmanuel Florent
• 1992 - Creation of M6 Interactions, which commercialises derived products. M6 concludes its 1st profitable year
of operation.
• 1994 - M6 shares are launched on the Second Marché
of the Paris Stock Exchange.
M6 Free to air
PRODUCTION
• 1989 - 1st local news station at Bordeaux, broadcast
at 8:54 pm. The 1st of a long series of local news station
openings at Grenoble, Lille, Lyon, Marseille, Montpellier,
Nancy, Nantes, Nice, Rennes and Toulouse.
Digital channels
Catherine Lenoble
• 1996 - M6 sets up its Internet site: www.m6.fr
TPS, television by satellite, is launched.
• 1999 - M6 takes over the Football Club des Girondins
de Bordeaux, with 66% of the capital (increased to 100%
in 2002)
Diversification
M6 Publicité
• 2000 - Record growth in advertising with an increase of
over 20% of advertising revenues
• 2001 - Launch of Loft Story, 1st French venture into
reality TV.
TPS
ADVERTISING
Digital
Channels
Diversification
and Audiovisual
Rights
• 1987 - Métropole Télévision is granted the authorisation
to exploit France’s 6th analogue TV channel on 1 March.
At 11:15 am, M6 broadcasts its 1st image.
• 2002 - With the 2nd season of Loft Story, M6 sets an all time
record prime time network viewing audience of 8.2 million.
• 2004 - Suez disengages itself from the M6 group,
maintaining a 5% shareholding.
• 2005 - M6 becomes the leading free to air broadcaster
for the FIFA 2006 World Cup (in number of matches)
M6 becomes the majority shareholder in the free magazine
Citato and launches, as co-publisher, the Auto Turbo magazine
Acquisition of mistergooddeal.com, one of the leaders in
e-commerce in France.
Financial Report
M6 Free To Air
M6 Group history: key dates
M6 Free to air
6
SHAREHOLDERS’
NOTEBOOK
Stock market listing
Voting rights ownership
at 31 December 2005
Share capital ownership
at 31 December 2005
(based on Euroclear bearer share survey)
Diversification
Digital channels
(based on Euroclear bearer share survey)
Company Name : Métropole Télévision
ISIN code : FR0000053225
Reuters code : MMTP.PA
Bloomberg code : MMT: FP
Share capital : € 52,755,476 comprising 131,888,690
same class and fully subscribed and paid-up shares with
a par value each of € 0.40.
Stock market listing : Compartment A of
EURONEXT Paris Eurolist (companies whose average
stock market capitalisation is more than a billion Euros)
Date 1st listed : September 28 1994
Differed Settlement Eligibility (SRD) : yes
Financial Report
TPS
Indices
The M6 share is a component of the SBF 80, SBF 120,
SBF 250, EURONEXT 100, IT CAC 50 and IT CAC
indices.
Since their creation on 1 January 2005, the M6 share is
a component of the new CAC IT 20 index, comprising
the 20 tech shares the most representative of the SBF
120 and the CAC MID100 index since 1 September
2005.
The M6 share is also a component of 17 DJ STOXX®
indices, in particular DJ Euro Stoxx Media and DJ
Stoxx 600 Media, sector indices, respectively grouping
the 23 and 41 most important European media shares.
SUEZ
5.00 %
RTL GROUP
48.56 %
Shares with
no voting rights
15.06 %
RTL GROUP
34.00 %
M6 employees CSP
0.09 %
Free float
Treasury shares
0.37 %
45.98 %
SUEZ
5.02 %
Free float
46.15 %
M6 employees CSP
0.09 %
Stock performance since 2000
Number of shares
Share price - high (€)
Share price - low (€)
Share price - closing (€)
2000
131,888,690
88.00
36.00
39.95
2001
131,888,690
44.21
13.75
32.00
2002
131,888,690
35.50
19.50
20.89
2003
131,888,690
27.68
14.25
26.02
2004
131,888,690
29.30
18.94
20.90
Market capitalisation at 31 December
Daily average trading volumes
(€ millions)
(in number of shares)
2005
131,888,690
25.07
19.12
23.40
434,262
5,269
355,751
4,220
3,431
2000
2001
2002
3,086
2,756
2,755
2003
2004
2005
85,956
94,236
79,915
100,791
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
Rapport annuel 2005
M6 Métropole Télévision
110
110
100
100
90
90
80
80
dec. 04
feb. 05
apr. 05
june 05
aug. 05
oct. 05
dec. 05
70
In 2005, M6 share recorded an increase of 12.0%, in line with the performance of the DJ EURO STOXX MEDIA
déc-04
avr-05
sector
index, whichfév-05
increased by 13.3%
during the year.juin-05
M6-METROPOLE TV
EURONEXT 100
aoû-05
oct-05
DJ EURO STOXX MEDIA
déc-05
Dividend in progression, high yield
Cash dividend (€)
Annual growth rate (%)
Yield, at 31 December closing price
* Cash dividend proposed to General Meeting of shareholders of 24 April 2006.
Annual Report 2005
2002
0.57
2.73%
2003
0.67
17.5%
2.57%
2004
0.84
25.4%
4.02%
2005 (*)
0.95
13.1%
4.10%
In addition, the Group has taken steps to
meet the financial community in France
and abroad at the occasion of road
shows and investor conferences. Finally,
numerous individuals meetings with
analysts, investors and managers took
place in 2005.
In order to improve the quality of
information provided, a new version of
our website dedicated to Group finance
was put on line during the year. This site
is regularly updated with our reference
documents, latest publications,
presentations, press releases, byelaws,
etc. Our press releases and reference
document are also available on the AMF
website: www.amf-france.org
• Tuesday 25 April 2006:
2006 1st quarter turnover
• Friday 28 April 2006:
Payment of cash dividend in
respect of the 2005 financial year
Digital channels
DJ Euro Stoxx Media
• Monday 24 April 2006:
Shareholders’ Combined General
Meeting
• Thursday 27 July 2006:
2006 2nd quarter turnover
• Monday 28 August 2006:
2006 first year-half interim results
• Thursday 26 October 2006:
2006 3rd quarter turnover
Diversification
120
120
Euronext 100
In order to establish and maintain
frequent communication with
shareholders and the whole financial
community, a large number of meetings
were organised in 2005, as follows:
• annual and interim results
presentation meetings,
• phone calls made at the occasion of
quarterly turnover presentation, as well
as phone conferences organised in
order to comment the
Mistergooddeal.com acquisition and
the Vivendi Universal – TF1 and M6
agreement in terms of pay TV.
(for information only)
This agenda is for information only.
Updates will be posted on our
website.
• In order to follow M6 financial
information, please visit our
website:
http://www.m6finances.com
Investor relations:
actionnaires@m6.fr
TPS
130
130
2006 shareholder
agenda
Financial Report
Comparative change of the M6 stock and the Euronext 100
and DJ Euro Stoxx Media indices since 1 January 2005.
Information policy
and documents available
to the general public
M6 Free to air
7
M6 Free to air
8
KEY FIGURES
Digital channels
Consolidated Turnover (€millions)
1,176.9
1,197.6
1,274.7
Operating Profit (€millions)
213.3
Consolidated Net Profit (€millions)
208.4
242.3
incl. TPS 194.8
131.6
128.8
156.2
incl. TPS 8.7
incl.TPS 5.1
incl. TPS 185.4
incl. TPS 0.6
1,012.2
Diversification
incl. TPS
-2.1
1,079.9
233.6
207.8
+16.3 %
+21.3 %
Financial Report
TPS
+6.4 %
2003
2004
2005
€1,274.7 million
in consolidated turnover
2003
2004
19.0 %
2005
operating profit margin
2003
2004
2005
12.3 %
net profit margin
Annual Report 2005
Analysis of turnover by segment (€millions)
Diversification
and audiovisual
rights
M6 Free to Air
635
Digital channels
64.6
1,280
1,518
Total
29.8 %
380.3
194.8
1,274.7
TPS
191
(held for disposal)
Mistergooddeal
15.3 %
M6 Free to Air
1,327
Digital channels
1,074
Diversification and
Audiovisual rights
Operations being
disposed (TPS)
49.8 %
Digital
channels
5.1 %
Diversification
Permanent Workforce
M6 Free to air
9
2003
2004
1,518
permanent staff
Annual Report 2005
2005
2003
420
46
253.6
The 2003 figures are under French GAAP while the 2004 and 2005 figures are under IFRS
2004
440.9
8.3
211.5
2005*
504.3
0.3
243.1
Financial Report
Group equity
Financial debt
Gross cash & cash equivalents
(*) continuing operations
TPS
Financial structure (€millions)
M6 Free to air
10
THE YEAR
IN REVIEW
2005
JANUARY
2 January : M6 rallies to the aid of the South Asia
tsunami survivors.
3 January : Launch of Kaamelott, a new short drama
with a different tone.
10 January : Launch of M6 Music Rock and M6
Music Black
Financial Report
TPS
Diversification
Digital channels
FEBRUARY
3 February : all time record audience levels set for
the TV series Les 4400, co-produced by Francis Ford
Coppola, with 6.2 million viewers
10 February : M6 concludes a mobile phone
agreement with Orange: M6 Mobile by Orange.
17 February : The singers, Chimène Badi and Amel
Bent discovered through M6 music shows, are the top
selling artists in terms of albums and singles in the
same week.
MARCH
21 March : The Ilona Mitrecey song, Un monde
parfait, becomes n°1 singles sales, an achievement
confirmed in the whole year 2005.
31 March : M6 Music is launched on DTT under the
name W9 on channel 9.
31 March : Launch of M6 Music Hits.
16 May : Purchase by SND of the copyrights
catalogue of Société Nouvelle de Cinématographie
(SNC) for the release in cinemas, video and television
of over 450 films, including the Gendarmes series.
JUNE
9 June : Launch of the 1st commercial offer of M6
Mobile by Orange: a innovative fixed price subscription
aimed at the 15 to 25 year olds.
17 June : Ricardo Gomez Raymundo becomes the
new manager of Girondins de Bordeaux.
30 June : Laurent Boyer and M6 Group work in
collaboration with Road Safety for the broadcast of an
advertising spot on prevention concerning wearing a
seat belt in the back seat at holiday times.
JULY
2 July : M6 is the exclusive French broadcaster
of Live 8, 8 free concerts organised worldwide
by Bob Geldof for the fight against poverty in Africa.
27 July : release in cinemas of the film Mr et
Mrs Smith, starring Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie,
co-produced by M6 .
AUGUST
30 August : M6 Interactions becomes the majority
shareholder in the monthly free news magazine Citato,
designed to introduce 15 to 20 year old to the press.
SEPTEMBER
APRIL
6 April : The film Brice de Nice is released. It was
co-produced by M6 (4.4 million in box office ticket
sales in 2005).
26 April : Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
attracts nearly 6.1 million viewers
4 september : Launch of 100% foot, the new
weekly magazine presented by Estelle Denis.
28 september : M6 broadcasts the 1st episode of a
new French drama Merci les enfants vont bien telling
the trials and tribulations of a large family (5.4 million
viewers).
MAY
OCTOBER
3 May : M6 innovates by broadcasting the
documentary: Hitler, la folie d’un homme, a new
documentary in colour retracing the dark Nazi era.
9 May : M6 makes the headlines when broadcasting,
for the first time, Star Wars’ double trilogy, following
the story chronologically.
7 October : M6 announces that it will be the leading
free to air broadcaster for the football World Cup (in
number of matches) by broadcasting live and in High
Definition 31 of the 64 matches.
19 October : M6 successfully runs French dramas
with a comedy theme with the broadcast of On ne
Annual Report 2005
11
prête qu’aux riches bringing together Michèle Bernier
and Axelle Laffont (5.4 million viewers).
ZOOM SUR...
Digital channels
Mistergooddeal.com
DECEMBER
On ne prête qu’aux riches
2006
JANUARY
23 January : Launch of 12:50 presented by AnneSophie Lapix
11 matches broadcasted in prime time on M6 in 2005
6 June : Kaamelott launched in
January is voted as the best TV
programme at the time of the
CBS News 2005 media grand
prix.
25 October : M6 Kid is
rewarded with a prize in the
youth category as part of the
media prize of the Foundation
for childhood for their report
“Comment ne pas fumer
la 1re cigarette” (How not to
smoke the first cigarette).
FEBRUARY
22 February : M6 Mobile attracts over 300,000
subscribers
M6 Mobile
Annual Report 2005
24 March : The French Senate
awarded its radio and television
entertainment prize to Caméra
café as well as a mention in the
Society category for Pensionnat
de Chavagnes.
26 November : Enquête
exclusive is awarded the JeanLouis Calderon Best Prize at the
Angers Festival International du
Scoop et du Journalisme for its
documentary “Dans l’enfer de
Bagdad”.
13 December : Calt (Jean-Yves
Robin) received a special
mention, given to producers
whose programmes touched the
public this year, for Kaamelott by
Alexandre Astier.
19 February 2006 : Véronique
Mounier and Alexandre Astier,
are rewarded for best presenter
and best comedian respectively,
at the first Trophées des Jeunes
Talents by the Judging Panel.
Diversification
Prizes and awards
TPS
12 December : Opening of the first M6 Boutique
shop in Paris.
15 December : turbo.fr, the leading automobile
publishing site, celebrates its 5th anniversary with new
ergonomics and new articles focused on service.
16 December : Vivendi Universal, TF1 and M6
announce that they are in negotiations leading to an
industrial agreement in the area of pay television.
21 December : M6 Mobile by Orange crosses the
200,000 subscribers threshold.
Financial Report
9 November : Launch of the Auto Turbo magazine,
the new automobile magazine, co-published with
Motor Presse and M6 Editions.
15 November : M6 Group, via its Home Shopping
Service subsidiary, acquires mistergooddeal.com, one
the leading French players in e-commerce, the leader
in inventory liquidation of major brands on the Internet.
21 November : Launch of Paris Première on pay
DTT.
M6 Free to air
NOVEMBER
AUDIENCES
2004/05 all channels performance among the
housewives under 50 years old (Audience share in %)
The year 2005 was marked
by record audience levels for
all viewers. M6 remains the 2nd
channel for housewives under
50 years old and has never had
so many evenings that
appealed to everyone.
Diversification
Digital channels
M6 Free to air
12
A year of progress
The 4400 have
fascinated
an average of
6.2 million
viewers
-1.0
-0.3
+0.5
+0.3
+0.9
2004 -2005
17.1
18.6 19.1
16.3
11.3
9.7 10.6
10.3
3.6 3.3
TF1
M6 grew in the under 50 years old public
with an audience share of 18.4% compared
to 18% in 2004 while the competition from
“Other TV” has never been stronger.
Housewives under 50 years old have never
watched M6 as much (with a daily average of
41 minutes watching the channel). With a
19.1% audience share among this public
(compared to 18.6% in 2004), M6 achieved
a record (equal to 2001 and 2002). Young
people also remain loyal to the channel as
M6 has recorded its best performance on
this target group since its launch: 21.5%
audience share among the 15 to 34 year
olds.
-0.8
35.5 36.2
In 2005, M6’s audience grew by 2.2%
among all viewers and audience share grew
by 0.1% to 12.6%. A performance marked
particularly by prime time which attracted an
additional 200,000 viewers to an average of
3.2 million every night.
M6 has stronger and stronger evenings: 26
evenings with over 5 million viewers in 2005
compared to 17 in 2004, and 90 evenings
with over 4 million viewers compared to 66 in
2004.
Records among
a privileged public
TPS
Financial Report
+0.7
France 2
France 3
Canal +
2.7 3.0
M6
France 5
Other TV
2004/05 all channels performance among
the over 4 years old (Audience share in %)
+0.5
-0.7
-0.5
-0.2
+0.1
+0.1
+0.8
31.8 32.3
2004 -2005
20.5
19.8
15.2 14.7
12.5 12.6
3.8 3.6
TF1
France 2
France 3
Canal +
11.2
3.0
M6
12
3.1
France 5
Other TV
(Source : Mediametrie)
Annual Report 2005
Powerful
evenings
Original French dramas brought the whole family together:
On ne prête qu’aux riches and Merci les enfants vont bien
drew 5.4 million viewers.
Number of prime time
programmes attracting more
than 4 million viewers
M6 also confirmed once again its position as the benchmark
channel for foreign series with the launch of 13 new series
such as 4400 and NipTuck. For NCIS Enquêtes spéciales,
it beat its own record this year with 6.2 million viewers. M6
also recorded its best historical audience for a series with the
evening of the launch of season 1 of 4400 (6.3 million
viewers).
Also, in 2005, M6 increased its involvement in football with
the broadcast of Olympique de Marseille’s progress in the
UEFA Cup and the launch of a magazine 100% Foot.
4 million viewers followed the last match of Olympique de
Marseille pool and 500,000 viewers on average watched
100% Foot presented by Estelle Denis at midnight on
Sundays.
3h26
66
Historic record individual
viewing time.
The French have never
watched so much television.
216 min.
Housewives viewing time
increased by 7 minutes
(216 minutes versus 209
minutes in 2004)
2004
2005
Best audiences in 2005 by broadcast
Number of prime time
programmes attracting more
than 5 millions
(in viewers millions)
Zone Interdite :
Capital :
Super Nanny :
Oui Chef :
Nouvelle Star :
Kaamelott :
NCIS :
The 4400 :
Merci les enfants vont bien :
0
1
(Source : Mediametrie)
Annual Report 2005
5.5
5.3
5
26
4.6
6.3
5.6
17
6.2
6.5
2004
5.4
2
3
4
5
6
Digital channels
In cinemas, M6 created an event with the Star Wars saga and
achieved record performances: 6.5 million viewers on
average for the 5 episodes.
1 evening in
4 in 2005,
compared to
1 in 6 in 2004,
M6 drew more
than 4 million
viewers.
Diversification
M6 attracted viewers with new scripts that put in perspective
society and daily life in an educational and amusing way.
Super Nanny attracted up to 5 million viewers and C’est du
propre attracted up to 4.6 million viewers. M6 created an
event in 2005 with broadcasts that had a great impact on
the public: the third season of Nouvelle Star achieved a
historic record with 6.5 million viewers, the documentary
Hitler, la folie d’un homme attracted 4.6 million viewers and
Oui Chef! had an average of 4.3 million viewers.
90
2005
7
(Source : Mediametrie)
The number
of evenings
attracting over
5 million viewers
grew strongly
in 2005
TPS
All types of programmes were well received by the public.
Magazine, drama and sports, symbols for the programming
diversity, the flagship of the channel as well as new
programmes attracted record audiences. The benchmark
information magazines continue to progress: 200,000
additional viewers followed Capital and Zone interdite on
Sunday nights and Six minutes remains the second
information programme of the evening most watched by the
under 50 year olds.
Financial Report
Success for all types of programmes
M6 Free to air
13
Diversification
Digital channels
M6 Free to air
14
THE ADVERTISING
YEAR
Advertising investments – Free-to-air TV
All-media advertising
investments
Analysis of 2005 gross
investment by media (€ millions)
In 2005, gross investment in
France in major media increased by
5.8% to € 19,499 million.
(Source : Media Explorer / TNS Media Intelligence)
The year was marked by the strong
increase in internet advertising
investments, whose market share
rose to 5.8% from 3.5% in 2004.
All media recorded an increase in
advertising investments in 2005.
Television increased by 1.3%
(including free-to-air and thematic
TV).
Tactical media
Cinema
Internet
0.1 %
0.9 %
5.8 %
The Food sector, which remains the leading
TV advertiser, thus recorded a 7.7%
decrease in advertising investments.
However, the Telecommunication sector,
Services (Banks, Insurance, Temporary
Work), and, to a lesser extent, the Car
Industry continued to use TV advertising
extensively, with investment growth rates
of 29.4%, 4.2 % and 1.3%, respectively.
M6 registered significant growth on these
dynamic sectors, in particular with a
56.1% increase in investments from the
Telecommunication industry and 13.4%
in Service industry investments.
Television (free-to-air and thematic
channels) is the second media in terms
of investments with a market share of
29.7% and advertising expenditure
of € 5,789 million. Within a sluggish
economic environment featuring low
household expenditure and a complex
regulatory environment for mass
consumption sector advertisers, gross
advertising investments grew by a limited
0.3% for all free-to-air channels.
Outdoor advertising
12.7 %
Press
34.7 %
Analysis of 2005 changes in the top 8 TV advertising sectors
Free to air and
thematic TV
Radio
29.7 %
(Source : TNS Media Intelligence)
16.1 %
+56.1 %
TPS
All TV
market
M6
Gross all-media investments (€ millions)
2004
2005
(Source : Media Explorer / TNS Media Intelligence)
+29.4 %
6,577.9
6,762.1
5,717.8
+13.4 %
5,789.3
Financial Report
+7.6 %
+5.2 %
+4.9 %
2,393.4
2,762.1 2,938.0
3,139.8
Cinema
652.4
-3.3 %
15.4
Tactical media
-4.1 %
-7.8 %
-7.7 %
9.5
Internet
-1.3 %
-3.6 %
1,134.4
133.4 178.5
+4.2 %
+1.3 %
+1.0 %
-11.5 %
Press
Outdoor
advertising
Radio
Free to air and
thematic TV
Food
Beauty
Publishing
Transport
Telecomm.
Services
Household
product
Media
Information
Annual Report 2005
15
M6 Free to air
A strengthened advertising market share
Analysis of 2005 advertising market shares
The M6 channel confirms its
position as the second channel
in terms of advertising investments with a gross market
share of 23.2% that grew by 1.1
basis point. In 2005, the channel achieved its highest market
share since its creation.
Canal+
France 3
France 2
7.2 %
12.1 %
2.2 %
France 5
Digital channels
1.1 %
M6
23.2 %
TF1
54.3 %
22.9 %
22.8 %
23.2 %
22.4 %
22.1 %
21.4 %
19.1 %
17.9 %
17 %
1997
1998
Annual Report 2005
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
Within the limited Cable –
Satellite – DTT environment,
gross advertising investments were primarily applied
to cable and satellite TV
channels. However, the 9
new free-to-air DTT channels achieved good results
since their respective
launch, from:
• 31 March 2005 (France
4, NRJ12, NT1, TMC, W9),
• 14 October 2005 (i>Télé)
• 7 October 2005
(Europe2 TV)
• 18 November 2005 (Gulli)
• 28 November 2005
(BFMTV)
The M6 Group channel W9
ranks 3rd in terms of gross
advertising investments
among the new channels of
the free DTT offering.
For the full year, advertising
revenue of the Group’s thematic channels increased
by 26.6% (11.7% on a
comparable basis).
TPS
M6 benefits from significant structural
growth drivers related to available time slots,
sector market share and a favourable price
difference. Therefore, the channel is optimistic with respect to the next milepost, the
opening up of the advertising market to
mass distribution at 1 January 2007.
Thanks to higher audience ratings and
more unifying nights by reaching out to a
wider audience, M6 channel strengthened
its position with advertisers, enabling
advertising revenues to increase by 4.0 %
in a market experiencing very little growth.
According to data published
by the CSA for 2004, net
advertising investments
applied to thematic channels amounted to € 139.9
million, that is 4.5% of net
advertising investments realised on all channels (freeto-air and thematic channels).
Extended service channels
(primarily comprised of thematic channels) benefited in
2005 from a 10.5%
increase in gross advertising
investments.
Financial Report
Evolution of M6 gross advertising market share
Diversification
Advertising investments –
complementary TV offer
M6, A RESPONSIBLE
GROUP
The M6 Group
is fully committed to
sustainable development
in its business, corporate
and society at large
responsibilities.
Financial Report
TPS
Diversification
Digital channels
M6 Free to air
16
Annual Report 2005
Financial Report
TPS
Diversification
Digital channels
M6 Free to air
17
Annual Report 2005
Financial Report
TPS
Diversification
Digital channels
M6 Free to air
18
Economic
development
Economic responsibility of the M6 Group
is to ensure its development by exploiting
the substantial growth reserves in the various
businesses within the group.
A model of profitable growth
for today and tomorrow.
Conscious of delivering continuously better
financial performance year on year, the Group
seeks also to enlarge and consolidate the bases
of its future growth in a competitive and technological environment undergoing rapid change.
Thus in 2005, the M6 Group successfully completed an aggressive strategy across all its operations, by:
- strengthening the force of the M6 channel,
- a stronger position in the thematic channels,
- and the aggressive approach in the area of
diversification with the launch or acquisition of
new areas of growth.
In addition, taking account of the changes in
the economic environment for pay TV, the shareholder of TPS and the Canal+ Group, acted on
the necessity to pool their forces and signed an
agreement to bring together these two entities.
This new year of revenue growth (+6.4%) produced a record profit of € 156.2 million, an
increase of 21.3%. It will be proposed at the
Combined General Meeting called for 24 April
2006 to distribute a dividend of € 0.95 per
share, corresponding to an 80% distribution
rate of the consolidated net profit.
A job generator, the Group had at 31 December 2005 a permanent workforce of 1,518 people compared to 1,280 at 31 December 2004,
due to growth in business and the acquisition
of Mistergoodeal.com.
The M6 Group today has a number of strengths
to respond to the challenges and opportunities
of its market, and to value its own margins and
levers. The Group thus states its chosen strategy particularly in the area of acquisitions of
content, its ambitious positioning on free DTT
with the W9 station, and its ability to capitalise
on its brand for the new supports with M6 Mobile
by Orange.
Ensure conditions for growth
To ensure conditions for its economic growth,
the Group as content producer, must guarantee its editorial policy in developing the ability
to detect and hold on to the talent of tomorrow.
The other challenge of scale is also to preserve
the environment in which the Group operates
by encouraging cultural diversity, by helping
artistic creation and by working to respect intellectual property rights.
Work to respect intellectual
property rights
Respect for intellectual property rights is one
of the great challenges for the future to preserve cultural diversity and artistic creation. The
M6 Group, within its various businesses, plays
an important role in creating awareness, particularly among the youth, the target audience
of the channel.
M6 thus acts in favour of legal downloads for
music on line, particularly via its m6music.fr site
and due to awareness campaigns calling on
well known artists such as Lisa Stansfield, Kyo,
Mylo, etc.
Annual Report 2005
M6, via its internal production companies, has
chosen a policy of seeking out promising talents.
This role of tele-seeking feeds its editorial policy
that provide the greatest space for innovation
and creativity. Thus Studio 89 enabled the arrival of a new generation of presenters such as
Max, Magloire, Zuméo or Maëva Berthelot. The
digital channels of the Group are also for M6
a breeding ground for young talent. Casting
and entertainment programmes are also opportunities to discover talents for tomorrow, thus
Laura, Chimène Badi or Amel Bent discovered in Nouvelle Star, and Sandra Lou in Le
Bachelor are leading examples.
This quest for new talents extends to all Group
businesses: many producers or directors had
their first TV drama with M6 such as Eddy Charbit (ALV) for On ne prête qu’aux riches, or Alexandre Astier (Calt) for Kaamelott. Many comedians also had their first part on television with
the channel.
Assist artistic creation and
promote cultural diversity
M6 is committed to develop artistic creation
and add value to diversity by focusing on young
talents as part of its financial and broadcasting
requirements.
Annual Report 2005
Digital channels
This policy is particularly evident in music, M6
is committed to develop a very varied programme to sustain all forms of music: musical
diversity of programmes for the channel is twice
as great as the major radio musicals. Also, the
channel is committed to the promotion of young
artists:
• by reserving transmission time for clips: of
150 clips dedicated to French artists coproduced by M6 and broadcast by it, 74 were reserved for new talents. M6 allocated in 2005 32%
of clips to new talents with no quantified requirement in this respect.
• by supporting artists such as Pearl, Myrtille
Julie Reims or Chris Still who have little or no
exposure on other media.
Diversification
Detect and retain talent
FOCUS ON…
Always listening
The evolution of
technologies, the
consumption fashions
and services offered by
the various divisions of
the Group strengthen the
links with its customers
and viewers. Every
Group unit has a
customer service section
and responds to the
demand for quality. The
m6.fr site is ranked
among the 50 most
visited sites in 2005 (3rd
media site*) due to an
effective on line and
convivial relationship.
The best illustration of this
desire to listen and the
service quality is the
viewers’ call centre. This
specific structure handles
telephone contacts, post
and e-mails from the
viewers. It responds to
these requirements:
response time is
optimised at 48 hours
from reception of the call.
In 2005, 104,314
requests were dealt with
of which 76% related to
M6, 20% for general
information and 4% for
equipment problems.
This procedure is
interactive: every day an
analysis is made of the
various requests received
and this is then
transferred to the
programming teams.
*(Source Cocedal Conseil, survey
Qualiweb 2005)
TPS
Thus in cinema: of 13 new films produced or
co-produced in 2005, 9 were the first or second
films such as Ne le dis à personne by Guillaume Canet, On va s’aimer by Ivan Calberac,
or Fair Play, the first film by Lionel Bailliu.
Financial Report
The multimedia subsidiary of the Group, M6
web, also made young internet users aware of
these problems in a one our chat session organised with the Minister for Culture, Renaud
Donnedieu de Vabres.
M6 Free to air
19
20
The impact of a multimedia group on society
at large is significant, the M6 Group assumes
this social responsibility by guaranteeing its
public the best content. Involved in this good
citizen commitment, the Group encourages
initiatives on various subjects covering
sustainable development.
Financial Report
TPS
Diversification
Digital channels
M6 Free to air
Social
responsibility
The M6 Group and Laurent
Boyer are associated in
Road Safety to produce
and broadcast an advertising
spot on prevention.
Quality of information and
public awareness
(worldwide concert of solidarity for the debt of
African countries).
M6 fully assumes its social responsibility by
demonstrating it in terms of quality of information: clarity in subjects handled, respect for pluralism and independence.
• By broadcasting free advertising spots
for NGOs, charitable associations, etc.:
in 2005, 391 advertising spots (with a value
of € 3.4 million) were offered to the Red Cross,
Action against Hunger, Aids Solidarity, etc. The
Métropole Télévision Group and Laurent Boyer
also created, together with Road Safety, a prevention spot on the wearing of the seat belt in
the back seat. This was broadcast at the start
of the summer holidays.
The M6 Group is an efficient mean of passing
messages dedicated to the challenges of sustainable development (environment, health, solidarity, children’s rights, etc.):
• by mobilising the channel and its editorial staff: M6 uses all its resources to ensure
the best information on humanitarian projects
and to give the best information on sensitive
subjects such us the recent catastrophes in
South Asia, the bombing in London last July
or during Sidaction, M6 showed on that occasion its support for the most disadvantaged by
paying over to certain organisations the income
from the Nouvelle Star or Tubissimo votes, for
example.
• By being associated with major awareness campaigns : the M6 Group was a
partner in a number prevention measures particularly for the dangers of the internet. (“Sur
la Toile, méfie toi des pièges” with the National Education Ministry). Clips of charitable organisations are given great exposure in all musical events. In the field, M6 reviews every year
its partnerships with, among others, in 2005
the Solidays and the Neck’airs (celebration of
music for sick children in hospital), or Live 8
Programmes accessible
to all
In order to improve access to programmes by
the deaf and the hard of hearing, television stations are required to sub-title 800 hours of programmes per year. M6, who has participated
since 1998 in assisting those with hearing difficulties, sub-titled 1,116 hours in 2005, thus
exceeding the quota indicated by the CSA.
Supervised programmes
M6 seeks to protect young people: the station
was the first to propose in 1989 a rating symbol system serving to specify what type of
audience the films and made for TV films are
addressed. The CSA took on the idea to impose
it on all stations in 1996. Today, a mother committee review all dramas and TV films as well
as sensitive series. The conclusions of this
committee resulted in a recommended symbol
Annual Report 2005
21
(general public, under 10s, under 12s, under
16s ) proposed to programming management,
as well as the timing of programmes revised to
avoid upsetting this sensitive public.
For the cinema, the CNC rating system is used
as a reference but M6, the party responsible
for the broadcast, reserving the right to increase
the rating for feature films.
The station also broadcast in 2005 the CSA
campaign for the protection of minors by applying
its logo. The musical clips with excessive violence are subject to the same precautions.
Annual Report 2005
Promotion of cultural
diversity and representation
of French society
The media and particularly television, as a mass
market media, play a fundamental role where
it reflects the multi-cultural reality that characterises French society: M6 has decided to show
that one in ten French people are non-European immigrants via its musical programme,
entertainment, drama or also the selection of
presenters, potential comedians as well as nar-
rators. This year again the M6 Group took initiatives and specific steps to allow the representation of cultural plurality and the diversity
of the components of the French population.
The Group was a partner and broadcaster of
the “Tous égaux, tous en scène” concert, making
people aware of the battle against discrimination.
Digital channels
Diversification
Thus, M6 acted in 2005 in
an educational role via
broadcasts such as
the evening event of
November 29 on the
tsunami, the transmission of
docu-dramas such as Super
Volcan, or E=M6, Climat,
l’État d’urgence (attracting
3.2 million viewers). Other
magazines demonstrated
this desire such as Capital
dedicated to renewable
energy (5.3 million viewers
and the best audience for
the magazine in 2 years).
TPS
Although the Métropole
Télévision Group’s business
does not present a
significant impact on the
environment, it has adopted
an active policy of recycling
waste generated by its
operations (batteries, neon
lights, etc.) as well as a
policy of energy control
(consumption of water,
electricity, etc.). In addition,
the responsibility of a group
that produces and
broadcasts content is based
also on a desire to make the
general public aware of the
challenges of sustainable
development.
Financial Report
Environmental
responsibility
M6 Free to air
FOCUS ON…
Financial Report
TPS
Diversification
Digital channels
M6 Free to air
22
Corporate
responsibility
The corporate responsibility of the
M6 Group is expressed in its adherence
to the rules inherent in business life
and in its ability to ensure staff compliance.
The Group every day employs them in its
human resources policy that values the
diversity and richness of its businesses.
More Group employees
The principal strength of the M6 Group is the
dynamism and expertise of its people, aged 34
on average, who work for it every day. The
development of the different areas of operations led to an increase in the workforce in
2005 to 1,298 permanent employees in the
various Group companies*.
The Group, a stakeholder in Syndicat des Télévisions Privées (STP), has a policy in favour
of occasional workers seeking to stabilise such
employment and reduce the level of insecurity.
The Group is very attentive to gender equality
(52% women). This equality extends to senior
positions: 46% women in Group senior management, or 54% excluding the Football Club
des Girondins de Bordeaux.
Employee training:
transmission and
development of expertise
The monitoring of employees’ career is essential. They are looked after, from the moment
they join the Group. To ensure the transfer of
expertise and their integration into the culture
of the business, every new recruit is invited to
an integration seminar that explains the Group’s
various businesses, as well as its strategy.
Respect for moral
and ethics
An ethics code is given
to every new arrival.
It sets the rules to be followed
by every employee in their
behaviour, to make choices
in the action they take.
internal candidates). The training of employees
is another major challenge. Internal training
represented 30% of all training carried out in
2005.
It was mainly dedicated to trainings in the development of their business, the management or
control of new technologies, languages or personal development. In addition, M6 is involved
with its adherence to STP in the negotiation
of two industry agreements protocol in the area
of training.
The example of the digitalisation of the national editorial office is the best illustration of this
policy: in order to work with the employees in
this new organisation over 70 people, permanent and part-time, received training in new
tools and acquired new skills.
Thereafter, internal mobility is sustained by evaluation and training such as the annual interview or the publication on the Intranet of positions vacant (the Group ensures priority for
* excluding Mistergooddeal
Annual Report 2005
Digital channels
M6 Free to air
23
Annual Report 2005
Dynamic internal communication
The Group has greatly
enhanced its internal
communication and now
has a selection of tools to
carry its values and
ensure the sharing of
information.
Every month, an internal
televised journal and an
information letter are
available to all employees
via the Internet and the
internal television
network. These
summarise the news of
the Group’s various
businesses.
In addition, each major
business has a real
window on the internet.
Essential information is in
this space: documentary
resources of tools that
facilitate the daily life in
the business such as
notes of holidays,
expense forms, etc.
A space is also dedicated
to news of the Group,
which is updated daily, to
enable everyone’s
involvement.
To facilitate the
knowledge of the various
businesses of the Group,
every month a detailed
description of an
employee outlines their
career, their business,
files on their department,
etc.
Internal communication
is completed with inhouse displays, where the
conception of specific
programmes is broadcast
on screen in the lifts.
TPS
FOCUS ON…
Financial Report
The Group is attentive to social advances by
granting profit sharing to employees: the Group
savings plan, renewed in December 2005,
and a profit-sharing plan that links employees
to an improvement in the Group’s performance.
It enables the Group to share with its employees,
gains realised as a result of their efficiency
and their involvement. As concerns social dialogue, the Group seeks to involve, in all its
major decisions, employee representatives
and union officials. Social dialogue is a priority, over 100 meetings were held in 2005. A
number of agreements were also concluded
in the area of health.
Diversification
Social advances
Financial Report
TPS
Diversification
Digital channels
M6 Free to air
24
Annual Report 2005
Financial Report
TPS
31.7 %
Annual Report 2005
Digital channels
M6 Free to air
M6 Free
to Air
Diversification
25
operating margin
Financial Report
TPS
Diversification
Digital channels
M6 Free to air
26
2005 was an excellent year for M6, consolidating its position as a challenger in the world of television. M6 has retained its title of 2nd most watched channel by the under 50 years old for the 7th year in a row, with 19% of the audience
share in this category. Another significant figure: 4 million viewers watched M6 one evening in three in 2005 versus
one evening in five in 2004, while keeping an increase in programming costs limited to 3.9%.
MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD
OF PROGRAMMING
Our ambition is to attract an increasingly wide public around more and more innovative programmes while safeguarding our traditional core target market, young people. Who would have imagined that Six Minutes, all in images, would
make room for 12:50, a completely new personified news programme that attracts 1,500,000 viewers every day?
Who would have thought that the 1998 channel ‘0% football’ would be the first free to air broadcaster of the Football World Cup in 2006?
Innovating also means taking risks and giving new talents a chance. Replacing Caméra Café with its famous actors
after four years of success with Kaamelott, a medieval series played by unknown actors, was a real gamble! A gamble that has paid off handsomely.
We have also greatly advanced the editorial line of our French drama by developing the comedies Merci, les enfants
vont bien, Élodie Bradford, Trois pères à la maison, as well as successful and unifying French comedies which give
M6 a new status in this world. In 2006, M6 will launch its first summer saga Laura, with a young and yet unknown
comedienne: Delphine Chanéac.
Always on the look-out for new themes and new faces, M6 this year again knew how to make real talents emerge:
Amel Bent in singing, recently rewarded with a “Victoire de la musique”, Cyril Lignac in catering, Anne-Sophie Lapix
for the news and successfully relit took on the flagship magazine Zone Interdite and launched the mid-day newscast,
or even Estelle Denis, who hosts 100% Foot, a magazine primarily aimed at men.
M6 knew how to revive the docu-reality show category: On a échangé nos mamans, Nouveau look pour une nouvelle
vie, Super Nanny, C’est du propre etc. Every episode, which responds directly to all of our daily lives, asks real questions, gives solutions and shows a society on the move.
Whether this is through documentaries such as l’Hôpital des enfants, which unveils life on a daily basis over the weeks
at the Robert Debré Hospital in Paris that specializes in the care of children, or such as Pékin Express, which tells an
unusual human adventure in the form of a game, M6 pursues its development while keeping its daily fighting spirit in
mind: “innovating and bring together”.
In 2006, we would like more than ever to offer a television of our times, the prime strengths of which are quality, creativity and independence.
Thomas Valentin
Annual Report 2005
Financial Report
TPS
Diversification
Digital channels
M6 Free to air
27
Annual Report 2005
Internal
productions
The independent and
creative M6 production
companies won many
successes in the
year’s awards
Diversification
Digital channels
M6 Free to air
28
TPS
KEY FIGURES
34
Financial Report
W9 Productions
produced 34 broadcasts
in prime time in 2005
Studio 89
24.1% housewives
under 50 years old have
followed the dilemmas
of Karl the Bachelor.
developed about ten
totally original concepts
A safeguarded independence
With its internal production companies, M6 controls the whole process of producing a
broadcast (from creation of the concept to broadcast on air). A strong point which extends
across all types of programmes: news magazines with C.Productions and Métropole
Télévision and entertainment with W9 Productions and Studio 89 Productions specializing
in streaming broadcasts. In 2005, the number of hours produced by each of its companies
gives them an enviable position in the French audiovisual market.
Annual Report 2005
29
Entertainment in prime time and internationally
Four reality TV programmes including the third season of Bachelor, le gentleman célibataire
and five entertainment programmes: Duels de stars broadcast live, the disco Grands classements, Coluche and De Funès as well as 15 years of Frequenstar have dotted a flourishing
year. Apart from home-grown programmes, W9 will from now on develop and produce for
foreign broadcasters: the 8th season of The bachelor for the ABC channel in the USA in partnership with Warner Bros and Le match des étoiles broadcast on Radio Canada. Finally, W9
hallmarks one of the finest successes of the start of 2006 with the adventure game Pékin
Express, presented by Stéphane Rotenberg.
Studio 89 Productions is
renowned for the diversity
and creativity of its concepts.
26 programmes were
produced this year for M6
and the Group digital
channels, ie 8 more than last
year. With 997 hours of
programmes, Studio 89 has
doubled its activity in two
years only by seizing many
expansion opportunities:
significant creativeness in
the M6 Group’s service is
the accompaniment of new
channels on DTT (W9),
Studio 89 Productions
Developer of talents
Studio 89 is at the source of about ten new original concepts in 2005 such as
e-classement (on Fun TV then W9), Jour J (M6) and En quête d’action (W9). Many presenters came from the reservoir of talents discovered by Studio 89 : Zuméo, Magloire, Jenny del
Pino, Jérôme Anthony. The new form of Morning Café attracts more than 300,000 regular
viewers every morning and Classé confidentiel, presented at 8:10 pm on a Saturday by Virginie Efira, achieved a record score in this case: 2.1 million viewers attracted by the secrets
of the world of cinema and music.
Programme times
produced by Studio 89
2003
2004
2005
Annual Report 2005
the integration of existing
broadcasts such as Ciné 6
and Grand Écran into its
business, and expertise in the
adaptation of foreign formats
(The Swan 1 and 2,
Celebrities bootcamp,
broadcast on TF6).
Studio 89, present in prime
time as well as in day time,
mastering extremely varied
formats (daily, weekly,
monthly and single
broadcasts), now largely
dominates the classification
of production subsidiaries of
audiovisual groups.
Diversification
STUDIO 89 :
Lightning growth
W9 Productions
New presenters
and a new
concept for the
early hours on M6:
Le Morning Café
from 7 to 9 am.
Digital channels
M6 Free to air
FOCUS ON...
TPS
News in all its forms
C.Productions has produced 168 formats, 154 of which are original informations, an area of
expertise of the company as it produced one prime time in seven in 2005. The recurring
Sunday evening programmes, Capital and Zone Interdite, not forgetting Secrets d’actualité,
have reached excellent performances. New magazines have come into being such as 100%
Foot, Enquête exclusive and several special programmes (the tsunami, the suburbs, Europe
in question…) have highlighted the channel’s responsiveness to current events. C.Productions also produces major documentaries: Hitler la folie d’un homme, Le jour où la France
s’est arrêtée, the trilogy Ma vie aux urgences d’Ajaccio, which brought an innovative expression to the news.
Financial Report
C.Productions
680 h
854 h
997 h
Diversification
Digital channels
M6 Free to air
30
Anne-Sophie Lapix,
new face of the
news presenter
12:50 and
Zone Interdite
Sunday evening magazines
KEY FIGURES
150
journalists are employed
in Paris and the eleven
local stations.
4.1 million
An average of 4.1 million
viewers followed Capital
in 2005
Financial Report
TPS
Information
Responsiveness,
deciphering, simplicity
of tone, new magazine and
daily formats: in 2005
M6 affirmed its wish to be
present on all types of
information programmes.
The three Sunday magazines, Capital and Zone Interdite alternating in the first half of the
night and Secrets d’actualité, three weeks out of four, continue to stand out as leading broadcasts in the channel. With an increase of 300,000 viewers compared with 2004, Capital
presented by Guy Lagache is becoming the most watched prime-time information programme.
Since September, two new broadcasts have been added to the three Sunday successes:
Enquête Exclusive, in the second half of the night one Sunday in four, and the weekly 100%
Foot, presented by Estelle Denis in the third part of the night. Enquête Exclusive, magazine
covering major events hosted by Bernard de la Villardière, clearly stands in investigation
ground and reveals the hidden face of major world conflicts. Gripping images and exclusive
revelations have been recognised with two prizes this year: The great Jean-Louis Calderon
prize at the “Festival International du Scoop et du Journalisme d’Angers” and the Patrick
Bourrat prize at the “Lauriers du Sénat” for Six semaines à Bagdad, la vie quotidienne dans
l’enfer de la guerre by Paul Comiti.
Within the context of developing its sporting programmes, M6 created 100% Foot, a talk
show with an innovative tone, which comments on the current events in soccer with an expert
on set every week and a guest football fan. This programme attracts up to 800,000 viewers
after midnight.
Information magazines have also responded to the urgency of current events through special broadcasts including an evening on the tsunami and exceptional documentaries on September 11, Hurricane Katrina and the Paris suburbs crisis.
Major documentaries
M6 has also continued to explore new television scripts, which rely on situations filmed on
a real time basis. With a second trilogy of Ma vie aux urgences à Ajaccio, M6 broadcast
Ma vie au commissariat from Mulhouse followed by 3.6 million viewers and the docu-drama
Le jour où la France s’est arrêtée.
In total, between traditional magazines and these new projects, C.Productions produced 190
hours of programmes in 2005 on behalf of news management. It is in a completely different world where the destinies of mothers, babies and children become intermingled that
Gilles de Maistre shot L’hôpital des enfants over a year, a documentary series with no voiceoff at the heart of the Robert Debré Hospital. This documentary broadcast in March 2006
was a real success, particularly among women.
Annual Report 2005
and local 7 minute bulletins
at 8:40 pm in eleven cities.
A great development in
2005 was the midday edition
firstly change of timing
from 11:50 am to 12:50 pm
doubling the number of
viewers, and then it was
broadcast for the whole
summer for the first time.
Finally, at the beginning
of January 2006, Six’ midi
became 12:50 and changed
from the “all-image” format
to that of a personified
newscast, presented by
Anne-Sophie Lapix, who
has noticeably increased the
number of regular viewers
since her beginning.
Financial Report
TPS
Relying on the success
of Six Minutes at 7:50 pm,
2nd most watched newscast
by the under 50 year old,
daily news has stood out
in 2005. National news has
experienced a real
technological revolution:
the change to all digital. M6
is equipped with resources
perfectly adapted to the
techniques and business
of modern television.
Daily news viewings are
flashes every half hour
between 7 am and 9 am
within the context of the
Morning Café broadcast,
national news bulletins
at 12:50 pm and 7:50 pm
Digital channels
FOCUS ON...
12:50
Diversification
Secrets
d’actualité,
with Laurent
Delahousse
M6 Free to air
31
Annual Report 2005
32
Financial Report
TPS
Diversification
Digital channels
M6 Free to air
FOCUS ON...
Information –
weekend leisure
Turbo and Grand Écran and
also E=M6, as real pillars of
weekend leisure news since
M6 started, continue to
attract a growing number of
viewers. The car programme
Turbo celebrated its 9000th
broadcast in 2005, attracting
an average of almost
4 million regular viewers to
the Saturday and Sunday
episodes. This year
Dominique Chapatte
concentrated on practical
advice (fuel economy,
good ideas) and special
broadcasts dedicated to
large car showrooms and car
rallies across the world.
Grand Écran, presented by
Véronique Mounier and
Ciné six reveals the secrets
of the cinema and directs
film buffs towards the best
current films, trailers,
making-of and interviews in
support thereof.
Finally, Mac Lesggy
continues to astonish and
share his scientific
discoveries with over
3 million viewers in an
educational and interactive
E=M6 thanks to the quiz
offered every Sunday
at 8:05 pm.
Lifestyle
magazines
Closest to the daily lives of viewers, lifestyle magazines go beyond the acknowledgement of
difficulties encountered by families by opening the dialogue between generations and proposing solutions. On Tuesdays, Super Nanny gives useful advice to parents and to children.
Il faut que ça change follows relationship problems, the lack of self confidence or introversions of many individuals who week after week have regained hope of a normal life. Whether it is C’est du propre, Nouveau look pour une nouvelle vie, Recherche maison ou appartement… M6 is broadening the fields of investigation in 2005 by putting on a more involving
and participative television.
Annual Report 2005
33
3.5 million
viewers followed Pékin
Express presented by
Stéphane Rotenberg
M6 Free to air
KEY FIGURES
Pékin Express
teams at the
start of their
adventure
Annual Report 2005
Financial Report
TPS
Diversification
Digital channels
Docu-reality
TV
At the start of the year, the docu-reality Oui Chef ! followed the journey of a very young
chef, Cyril Lignac, who gave an opportunity to 10 young people with no training, who he
trained over several months and with whom he opened his first restaurant. This prime time
programme attracted an average of 4.3 million viewers. Every week in 2006, Cyril Lignac
in Chef la recette gives his trade secrets, his “little tricks” with humour and simplicity, while
explaining his recipes. At the start of 2006, the game Pékin Express followed the
adventures of ten applicant teams every Sunday, the aim of the game being to get to
Peking with only €1 per day. A challenge with surprises demanding resourcefulness.
Entertainment
Event-driven
programming at 8:50 pm,
new formats but also
the return of Nouvelle Star,
an ideal springboard
for singing talents, was
the main entertainment
highlight of 2005.
Financial Report
TPS
Diversification
Digital channels
M6 Free to air
34
Annual Report 2005
35
Comprehensive musical programming
M6 confirms its support for musical talents through day-time shows. 32% of clips broadcast on air are “discoveries”. Hit Machine, Fan de, and also the Morning Café, Star Six and
Tubissimo are some of the musical windows offered every week to viewers, who of course
find favourite songs and also the new faces of the French music industry.
In 2005, M6 launched 3 innovative projects in particular in this field: the Talents 2005 campaign, which saw the dedication of the artist Gage, as well as the launch of two mini-series
D comme Découverte on a Wednesday night and F comme Focus on a Saturday night.
With its unbeaten results
in 2005, M6 Kid confirms that
its cocktail of humour, practical
advice and cartoons captivates
a large audience. Every Sunday
morning at 9:20 am on an
originally decorated set, the
two presenters teach children
how to dance and sing, obtain
information, or even cook
simple and delicious dishes.
The M6 Kid reporter answers
all questions relating to daily
life: How do you get to school
on time? How do you learn
grammar rules, convince your
parents? In 2005, M6 Kid kept
its 3 weekly shows, which is
5 hours of programmes and
new cartoons broadcast on
M6 Kid has strong growth in these 3 broadcasting
slots among the 4 –10 year olds.
Wednesday
2004
La Nouvelle Star
broadcast live
attracted up to
6.5 million viewers
Saturday
Thursday
(Source : Mediametrie)
Annual Report 2005
Wednesdays, Saturdays and
Sundays. Viewers were able to
discover the 2nd season of
success from the previous year
in the 13 and 26 minute
formats: Martin Mystère,
(Marathon animation), Kid
Paddle (Dupuis audiovisual)
and Atomic Betty (Atomic
cartoon) in which M6 actively
participated in the production
as well as the return of
Barbapapa, Yu Gi Oh and
The New Adventures of
the Invisible Man.
Maeva Berthelot, a new
presenter from September,
along with Lucky makes
an unmissable television duo
for children… and parents.
11.2
2005
14
17.7 + 6.5 %
16.9 + 2.9 %
18.6
22.6 + 4.0 %
Diversification
Youth: M6 Kid
Digital channels
M6 Free to air
FOCUS ON...
TPS
Laurent Boyer, Virginie Efira and Benjamin Castaldi together present the channel’s entertainment with a common goal: to discover while enjoying the stars of French and international singing.
As a specialist in musical entertainment and nostalgia years, Laurent Boyer has presented
Les grands classements, Les surprises de stars, not forgetting Frequenstar dedicated to
Élie Semoun, Gérard Jugnot or even Éric & Ramzy. Virginie Efira is dedicated among others
to the new version of Classé Confidentiel which reveals secrets of success to everyone
(music, television, people personalities). This show every Saturday at 8:05 pm attracts more
than 2 million viewers, which is almost 30% of 15-34 year olds.
As for Benjamin Castaldi, this year he presented and produced the second edition of la
Coupe du Monde du Rire and Ça les fait rire. Benjamin Castaldi also presents Nouvelle Star
which is recognised as the preferred musical broadcast, which discovers tomorrow’s talents.
In 2005, the 3rd edition of Nouvelle Star beat its own record with an average of 4.2 million
viewers. With over 25,000 candidates auditioned, La Nouvelle Star is the largest song
contest ever organised in France. In 2005, this leading event M6 show revealed Myriam
Abel whose single “Donne” reached no. 2 in sales not forgetting Amel Bent, one of the
finalists from the previous season, who became a fully-fledged artist… at the 2005 Victoires de la Musique.
Financial Report
Prime time hits and humour
Diversification
Digital channels
M6 Free to air
36
TPS
Merci les enfants
vont bien or the
tribulations of
a big family.
Drama
Financial Report
KEY FIGURES
6.2 million
viewers on average watched the
first season of 4400, an all time
record audience for an M6 series.
5.4 million
viewers followed Merci les
enfants vont bien and On ne
prête qu’aux riches.
French Drama is one of the main challenges of the year.
Between humour, family stories and police drama,
M6 has greatly succeeded in its efforts. Whether it is
detective films, overstretched parents or the king of
Kaamelott, viewers are attached to the M6 heroes.
Annual Report 2005
37
Recurring heroes
M6 has continued the development of series, which appeared in previous years such as
Jeff et Léo, flics et jumeaux, Trois Pères à la maison etc. The success of these series is
confirmed as the illustrious Élodie Bradford brought to life by Armelle Deutsch who
captivated 4.7 million viewers. M6 will soon launch 5 police comedy pilots.
production: Alice et Charlie
(with Édouard Montoute and
Anne Marivin), Les Tricheurs
(Pascal Legitimus and Sara
Martins), Anna Meyer (Marie
Fugain and Stomy Bugsy),
Emman Sinclair (Shirley
Bousquet and Davy Sardou),
Martin Paris (Jean-Marc Barr
and Linda Hardy) or even
Mes chers parents (with
Roland Giraud and Fanny
Cottençon).
But the most long-awaited
event of 2006 is the first M6
summer saga Laura, with
a devilish intrigue and
prestigious casting:
Christophe Malavoy, Sophie
Duez, Christian Charmettant,
Claire Nebout, Arthur Jugnot,
Yannick Soulier, Aurelien
Wiick and Philippe Lavil
share the billboard with
Delphine Chanéac,
discovered in Brice de Nice.
This year once again M6 demonstrated its leadership in terms of series from across the
world by discovering the best new programmes in very varied categories.
2005 marked the enormous success of the Friday evening series line-up, which very
quickly became a must see show particularly with NCIS and NIH : alertes médicales, as well
as the sensational arrival of the Nip-Tuck series in the first half of the night. Another
symbolic programme of the year Les 4400, 3 evenings of events in February 2005 with
an average of 6.2 million viewers, an absolute record for an M6 series.
TPS
Les Bleus, premiers pas
dans la police, Grand Prize
for the Series at the 8th
Luchon Festival, was one
of the first successes
of 2006 to be recorded
with 5.1 million viewers.
All audiences followed the
first episode of this detective
series produced by Alain
Tasma. Other comedy pilots
of 52 to 90 minutes are
being shot or in post-
No fewer than 10 new foreign series and original series were offered on air in 2005.
Among these the fantastic American series: Lost, Stargate Atlantis, Tru Calling etc., original
English series: Hex , Footballer’s Wives as well as a Belgian series with strong discussion
on the scandal of women trafficking in Eastern Europe Matrioshki : le trafic de la honte. M6
has also offered new unpublished seasons of familiar channel series to viewers: Alias,
Smallville, Charmed, Un dos Tres, Stargate, Sex and the city, Dead Zone. Many events are
already listed in the 2006 programme, in particular 3 series, which are set in the United
States: Prison Break, Commander in chief and Desperate Housewives.
Financial Report
Foreign series
The new M6 series
M6 Free to air
Kaamelott was undoubtedly the most prize-winning programme of 2005 and is also a
popular series with viewers. While introducing the general public to the adventures of King
Arthur, Alexandre Astier, the one-man band of this off-beat drama, has won up to 5.6 million
viewers in access prime time. Alain Chabat, another new M6 outrageous, has produced an
animation series called Avez vous déjà vu? and introduces the most inappropriate situations
in 50 seconds.
FOCUS ON...
Digital channels
Humorous drama is the reliable value of 2005 and comes in a variety of formats. In prime
time, On ne prête qu'aux riches, a comedy with Michelle Bernier and Axelle Laffont and
Merci les enfants vont bien attracted 5.4 million viewers.
Diversification
Humour à la carte
Annual Report 2005
38
Star Wars, cinema event
Digital channels
M6 Free to air
In May, M6 created an event around the release of the Star Wars Episode 3 film by proposing to review a whole generation of cult films for the first time in chronological order of the
narration. On Monday 9 and 13 May, M6 broadcast Episodes 1 and 2 of Star Wars (on air
on free television for the first time), just before the release of Episode 3 on 18 May in cinemas and then scheduled Episodes 4, 5 and 6 for the following Mondays. This large-scale
operation relayed by the whole of the channel allowed M6 to record increased audience
scores (6.5 million viewers on average) and to demonstrate that it knew how to accompany
the cultural highlights of its audience.
The 2005 cinema offer confirmed the channel’s increased scale with very good results in
eclectic categories: original comedy films such as Shallow Hal or La Beuze, thrillers such as
The Collector or Prophecy of the Shadows, prestigious comedy dramas (Vanilla Sky) or
romantic intimate comedies (Irène, Filles uniques).
Diversification
M6 Films
Financial Report
TPS
M6 Films who manages the pre-purchase of television broadcasting rights for M6 also coproduces French and European films. This activity is included in its free television activity. In
a situation where fewer people are going to cinemas (-10%*) in 2005, the films co-produced by M6 played their part well with 11.2 million box office ticket sales. 4 films were ranked in the top 10 French films of the year: Brice de Nice, second film by the director James
Huth with Jean Dujardin, which took the lead in the 2005 French box office with 4.4 million
sales, and the third place for all nationalities together, Iznogoud, a Patrick Braoudé comedy
with Michael Youn, which attracted 2.5 million viewers, Espace Détente, first Bruno Solo and
Yvan Le Bolloch’ film (1.7 million box office ticket sales) and Les Chevaliers du Ciel, by Gérard
Pirès, 1.3 million box office ticket sales. M6 Films will follow its policy of supporting young
talent in the French film industry by accompanying the production of the second Guillaume
Canet (Ne le dis à personne) and Ivan Calberac films (On va s’aimer).
*Source Estimations Baromètre FNCF
The uncanny and
the supernatural
are definite values
for M6 series.
Here, Les 4400.
Annual Report 2005
Brice de Nice
(opposite) played
by Jean Dujardin.
Cinema successes of the year broadcast on M6
in millions of viewers
Star Wars episode 1 / The Phantom Menace :
Star Wars episode 2 / Attack of the clones :
Star Wars :
Return of the Jedi :
The Empire strikes back :
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom :
Shallow Hal :
Indiana Jones and the last crusade:
Indiana Jones: The raiders of the lost ark:
The Collector :
(Source : Mediametrie)
Annual Report 2005
6.8
6.8
6.5
6.3
6.2
6.1
5.9
5.8
5.8
5.6
Financial Report
Yoda (above), a
symbolic figure of
Star Wars.
TPS
Diversification
Digital channels
M6 Free to air
39
40
M6 Free to air
Sport
11
matches were broadcast
in 2005, 10 of which
were in prime time
Diversification
Digital channels
KEY FIGURES
2005 marked a decisive
step for M6 in the acquisition
of rights and broadcasting
of sporting news and
football in particular.
M6 acquired the broadcasting rights to the UEFA Cup Final for 2005 and 2006. It also
exclusively and successfully broadcast the Olympique de Marseille matches at the time of
the 2005 Intertoto Cup and the UEFA Cup. 4 million viewers followed the team’s last tournament match. A success confirmed at the Sporting Lisbon – CSKA Moscow final: 3.5 million viewers and 21.9% of the audience share among men under 50. In order to reiterate
its wish to become a major player in sport, M6 acquired the rights to 31 matches of the
2006 FIFA World Cup, including 4 from the round of 16 and 2 quarter finals.
100 % Foot : The experts’ opinion
In order to prepare for this event, M6 has a team of outstanding columnists in the world of
football. Since September 2005, M6 offers 100% Foot, a magazine, which reviews all the
soccer news in a lively manner every Sunday at around midnight, only a few hours from the
final whistle of the weekend’s sporting fixtures. The programme contains one hour of excerpts,
summaries, reporting, special reports, surveys and the viewpoints of guests, experts and passionate people. Estelle Denis supported by Dominique Grimault and Pierre Menès attract
almost 600,000 viewers, which is 18.9% of men under 50 years old. Another magazine
started in July 2005, 100% Girondins, produced directly in Bordeaux, enabled national exposition of the club’s performances on the nights matches were held, with good audience levels.
100% Girondins has been broadcast on W9 since January 2006.
Financial Report
TPS
Sport 6, one of the channel’s traditional broadcasts, is on television every Sunday. An all
image format sporting news magazine, Sport 6 focuses on all disciplines and sportsmen,
whether they are well known or not. Sport 6 is a concise information magazine featuring
sports results, image highlights and of course the famous red card for the sins of sports:
doping, violence on the pitch...
Alexandre Delpérier
holds interviews live
in the stadium
Annual Report 2005
With 31 matches broadcast
at the 2006 Football World
Cup in Germany, M6 is
offering one of the best
sporting events broadcast on
television and gripping duels:
Brazil/Croatia,
England/Paraguay,
Argentina/Serbia,
Portugal/Mexico, Czech
Republic/Italy. Estelle Denis
will take charge of 100%
Coupe du Monde, a daily
magazine. M6 will have
9 reporting teams available
Annual Report 2005
and special correspondents
available across Germany
in order to offer interviews
and speakers at the same
time to news programmes
(6 minutes and 12:50)
and to the morning editions.
Matches carried out on HD
will be commentated on by
Thierry Roland, Christophe
Dugarry, Frank Lebœuf and
Christophe Josse.
TPS
M6, first free to air broadcaster
of the 2006 FIFA World Cup
Financial Report
FOCUS ON...
Diversification
Digital channels
M6 Free to air
41
Financial Report
TPS
Diversification
Digital channels
M6 Free to air
42
Annual Report 2005
4.8 million
Diversification
Digital
channels
Digital channels
M6 Free to air
43
Financial Report
TPS
The Group’s digital channels attract an
average audience of 4.8 million every day
Annual Report 2005
M6 Free to air
44
COMPLEMENTARY
TV OFFER
Diversification
Digital channels
A fast-changing market
Migration of analogue subscriber
households is accelerating towards
100% digital TV and complementary
TV offer.
Complementary TV offer was analogue in its first years but
market penetration is now progressing rapidly following the
introduction of new digital free-to-air and DSL broadcast
mediums.
Major extended service distributors do not market analogue
packages anymore in all broadcasting media, except for
Canal+, and have undertaken the transfer of their
subscribers from analogue to digital broadcast.
Financial Report
TPS
Two new growth drivers
for complementary TV offer:
– The successful launch of a free multi-channel
offer for all, the Free DTT.
Complementary TV offer was historically for subscribers only
but is becoming more widely available today following the
successful launch in March 2005 of an extended, TV offer
digitally broadcast free-to-air (DTT).
Viewers wishing to receive this free TV offer need only to
equip their TV with a terrestrial digital adapter, subject to the
area being covered.
– The success of multi-service High-Speed Internet
Connection – Phone Services – Multi-Channel TV
offers, the Multiplay offers.
Complementary TV offers were historically marketed on their
own. They are now marketed with other communication
services, such as High-Speed Internet Connection or
unrestricted phone time in package deals.
To date, only the cable and DSL technologies can provide
these offers.
A customer who subscribes to a high-speed internet access
service benefits from a “free” complementary TV offer,
subject to technical eligibility (note: 95% of France was
covered in 2005 and 65% of the coverage area was
technically eligible).
The development of “on demand” TV
programme consumption is making
complementary TV offer richer
The emergence of mobile TV
reception gives a new dimension to
complementary TV offers
Historically sedentary, TV consumption is also becoming
mobile. Complementary TV offers are marketed by mobile
phone operators on subscription or on demand.
A client who owns a multimedia mobile phone compatible
with 3G and Edge networks can subscribe to a channel
package or consume programmes on-demand.
These profound market changes result from the digitalisation
of content, of the generalisation of the internet media and of
the accompanying significant development of data
transmission networks.
This new state of affairs is attracting new participants with
great investment capacity, such as telecommunication
operators and internet access providers, on the already
highly competitive Complementary TV offers market.
TV programmes were historically “broadcast”. They can now
be consumed on demand.
On-demand programme consumption services were
launched on the internet for consumption on a computer
screen. They are now also provided by DSL TV platforms.
Customers can chose a programme (show, film…) in a
catalogue of on-demand products and consume it as they
would consume a DVD: watch it whenever they want, all in
one go or in several parts…
Annual Report 2005
2005 analysis of households
equipped with complementary
TV offer by technology
Households equipped with
complementary TV offer
new growth drivers
equipped with analog complementary TV offer
Free DTT
6.9 M
7.8 M
8.6 M
9.2 M
9.7 M
10.1 M
10.3 M
11.1 M
13.1 M
Free digital free
to air 10 %
Subscr. Digital
DSL
2%
Anal. Freeto-Air. (C+)
Free
Digital DSL
7%
Subscri.
Digital
Satellite
14 %
8%
2.5 M
3.3 M
4.0 M
4.7 M
5.2 M
5.5 M
5.7 M
6.6 M
5.3 M
5.3 M
5.2 M
8.9 M
5.0 M
4.8 M
4.5 M
4.5 M
4.2 M
Pay Multichannel CabSat
Canal+ only, Sat. free and
cable broadcast service
10.3 M
11.1 M
13.1 M
0.4 M
1.3 M
1.2 M
10.3 M
10.7 M
10.6 M
2003
2004
2005
28 %
Free Analogue
Cable Dist. by
Aerial
1.4 M
Multiplay DSL
Financial Report
equipped with digital complementary TV offer
Subscriber
Analogue Cable
11 %
Subscriber Digital Cable
Free Digital
Satellite 11 %
9%
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
Source: Operators, Aform, CSA, Access, M6 estimates
Annual Report 2005
TPS
Households equipped with digital
complementary TV offer
Diversification
Digital channels
M6 Free to air
45
M6 Free to air
46
An ever increasing share of “All TV”
The top 20 channels of the
complementary TV offer
environment concentrate over
50% of the audience. 4 of the
M6 Group channels rank among
the top 12 channels.
The All-TV audience share of “Other TV” increased by 0.8 basis
point to 12% in 1 year.
Digital channels
The audience share of the CABSAT environment is stable at about 36%. The growth of the “Other TV” share in
the “All TV” audience share is driven by the new DTT measuring environment, whose growth in “Other TV” 4 + year
old market share reached 26% in January 2006, and by the increase in the number of “Other TV”-equipped
households.
Measured “Other TV” - equipped households
Equipped with CABSAT multichannel
Ranking of complementary TV
offer channels
Equipped with DTT multichannel
4.5 M
5.0 M
5.5 M
5.9 M
6.3 M
(as a % of the cable and satellite environment,
for 4+ year old individuals)
7.6 M
Diversification
1.3 M
4.5 M
TPS
2000
5.0 M
2001
5.5 M
2002
5.9 M
2003
6.3 M
2004
6.3 M
2005
“Other TV” audience share for 4+ years
old individual, CAB SAT environment
CABSAT
Share on “Other TV” In “All TV”
for 4+ year old individuals
8.5 %
9.5 %
(source : MediaCabSat wave 10)
10.9 %
11.2 %
12 %
Financial Report
7.5 %
“Other TV” audience share for 4+ years
old individual, DTT environment
DTT
2000
2001
2002
Note: To date, Médiamétrie does not measure the DSL,
Free Satellite and Cable TV by Aerial environments
36 %
2003
2004
2005
26 %
(source: MediaCabSat wave 9, September
2005 – February 2006)
Eurosport
1.9 %
RTL9
1.8 %
TV Breizh
1.3 %
Canal J
1.2 %
TMC Monte Carlo
1.1 %
Paris Première
1.0 %
TF6
0.9 %
LCI
0.9 %
e
13 Rue
0.9 %
Tiji
0.9 %
Teva
0.6 %
TPS Star
0.6 %
(source : Mediamétrie, January 2006)
(source : Mediamétrie)
Annual Report 2005
47
• As regards the subscriber TV distributor business, the Group
holds a 34% shareholding in the TPS platform. In addition, the Group edits
14 thematic channels of the TPS offer through this shareholding.
(Télétoon, Télétoon+1, Eureka, Piwi, TPS cinetoile, TPS cineculte, Infosport,
TPS star, TPS cinefamily, TPS homecinema, TPS cinestar, TPS cinextreme)
The Group had an aggressive year 2005.
The year was marked by numerous events for the Group’s channels:
• The launch of three new channels, M6 Music Black and M6 Music Rock, followed by M6
Music Hits
• The launch of W9 on free DTT
• The positioning on the mobile phone market
• Extended channel distribution
• The first break-even financial year for Paris Première since the acquisition and the restructuring of the channel in 2004
• Agreement among Vivendi Universal, TF1 and M6 concerning the combination of their
pay TV activities
Annual Report 2005
Mobile phone TV is an emerging market
segment with a strong growth potential.
This segment could be a real growth driver
for the Group’s digital channels.
Close to 50% of mobile phone subscribers
could have access to TV offers and on-demand
programmes. In addition, the development of the
video walkmans and the deployment of the DVBH digital standard (Digital Video Broadcasting:
Handhelds) enabling the mobile reception of a
digital hertzian signal could encourage mobile
TV consumption.
M6 Free to air
Digital channels
The Group subscriber channels would
be potentially received by nearly 3 million
additional French households within the
next 5 years.
In the United Kingdom, which is a more mature
country in terms of subscriber TV, 43% of the
TV-equipped population has subscribed to a
digital TV package (source: Ofcom - Q3 2005).
In France, 37% of TV-equipped households pay a
TV subscription (including analogue Canal+).
Diversification
• As regards the channel editor business, the Group has built up a portfolio
of 11 digital channels, complementary in terms of positioning and targets.
M6 Group second free-to air channel, W9,
as well as the unscrambled Paris Première
air time will potentially be received by over
75% of TV-equipped French households
within 5 years.
TPS
M6 Group is a reference participant in the complementary
TV offer:
Promising prospects
for the M6 Group
Financial Report
M6 Group:
an aggressive positioning
FOCUS ON...
TPS
Diversification
Digital channels
M6 Free to air
48
Paris Première
“You can turn the
TV back on again”
In 2005, Paris Première kept
all its promises, overcoming
a triple challenge: retaining
its identity, increasing
its exposure and audience
ratings while breaking even
financially. Thus, the channel
can safely celebrate its 20th
anniversary in 2006.
Financial Report
KEY FIGURES
2 hours
Paris Première’s daily unscrambled
broadcast on DTT
3.3 million
The average daily audience
of the channel
Annual Report 2005
49
M6 Free to air
Digital channels
In one year, Paris Première’s audience ratings increased by 24% on the 4 + year
old segment* and the channel attracts a daily audience of 3.3 million**. Its broadcasting performance is reflected in its core target with a 30% increase in this category***. Paris Première is the third most viewed channel by the upper middle classes****.
The channel developed its Parisian identity, becoming one of the three most viewed thematic channels by the under 50 year-olds in Paris and its suburbs**.
Paris Première focuses on developing an original and unique approach to reviewing current
culture, art or economic events in all its iconic shows and recurring programmes:
Paris Première provides an innovative approach to getting to know celebrities, such as Thierry
Ardisson who receives celebrities in his own apartment in 93 Faubourg Saint-Honoré, Ariane
Massenet who broadcasts from the lounge of Hôtel Crillon in Petites confidences entre amis
or Frédéric Taddéi and his indiscreet camera in Paris dernière.
Laurent Ruquier in Ça balance à Paris, as well as Alexandra Golovanoff and Catherine Pégard
in Les femmes et les patrons d’abord, who have both adopted a cheeky interview style and
delivery.
Paris Première also invites viewers to escape everyday life through the IMAX documentaries presented by Priscilla Telmon.
An event driven channel must have exceptional shows, such as Paris défile, Golden Globes,
or Vive la télé in which Philippe Gildas introduces gems from French TV archives.
*Source: Médiamétrie/MédiaCabSat, September 2005/ February 2006,
** Source: Médiamétrie/MédiaCabSat – Total daily audience
*** Increase of a quarter of an hour on average for wave 10 versus wave 9
**** Excluding Canal+ variations and free-to-air channels
Annual Report 2005
Diversification
Paris Première makes a point of being different
FOCUS ON...
A new rendez-vous: DTT
The CSA allowed Paris
Première to be broadcast
on pay DTT from
21 November 2005. This
is a new broadcast channel
for Paris Première, which is
already available on cable TV,
satellite TV, DSL and even by
mobile phone.
Paris Première benefits from
two hours of unscrambled air
time on DTT, which gives
the channel better exposure
for its programmes, especially
its iconic programmes. This
new opportunity to be viewed
by all households equipped
with a DTT adapter should
enable the channel to
continue its development.
TPS
Paris Première attracts a large audience. The channel can be accessed on all broadcasting
networks: DTT, satellite, cable, DSL and mobile (Orange). It is available to 14.2 million viewers, ranking among the five most watched channels in France.
Les femmes et les
patrons d’abord will be
one of the programmes
broadcast unscrambled
on pay DTT.
Financial Report
A very popular channel
50
W9, a major participant in DTT
Digital channels
M6 Free to air
In less than one year, W9 has asserted itself on DTT thanks to comprehensive and varied
programming focused on music, action and relaxation.
W9 reached 2.7% audience ratings on the 4 year old + equipped with DTT* and attracts a
weekly audience of 3 million**.
W9 is the most popular of all new DTT channels among young adults. 71.5% (1) of 15-34
year-olds equipped with DTT watch W9 every week.
These early results prove the relevance of M6 Group channel offering and of W9 editorial
choices. The channel has excellent prospects ahead due to the future spread of DTT throughout France.
A programming that combines quality,
diversity and consistency
Financial Report
TPS
Diversification
Following the launch of W9 on 31 March 2005, the channel confirmed an ambition to strengthen its position as a benchmark channel for the under 35 year-olds. At this significant stage
in the development of the channel, W9 designed a programme offering based on three
mainstays: quality, which is a major challenge for new free-to-air DTT channels, diversity,
which is the primary feature of a rich offering, and consistency, which guarantees a wellbalanced programming specifically targeting the under 35 year-olds.
These three principles are used extensively in channel programming, with original magazine
and entertainment shows such as Au cœur de l’action or W9 Live; major events, from the
Grammy Awards to Made in Manga or École des Elites; top box office successes (Presumed innocent or There’s something about Mary), recent and original series (Jonny Zero or
Hex, season 2), comedy series such as The Simpsons ; cult series such as Dead Zone, sport,
with the frantic action of the World Rally Championship or 100% Girondins …
A completely different TV
W9 «kick out
the jam»
In a French television scene radically changed by
the advent of DTT, W9 is asserting itself as a
major participant in this new television offering.
W9 programmes and presenters match the audience of the channel: full of energy, enthusiastic and relaxed for completely different TV.
Frédérique Bedos in Samedi Live shares her passion for music in her live show; François
Pécheux introduces us to the lives of today’s adventurers and follows all thrill seekers in En
Quête d’Action; Moon Daily presents the best of the internet sites and searches for the 50
most popular hit singles on the web in E classement; Vanessa Demouy is taking her first
step as a presenter on W9, hosting Made in Manga.
Female narrators from all European countries symbolise this spirit and are making a comeback on W9. Everyday, these charming presenters guide viewers by bringing their personal
touch and humour.
(1) IFOP study from 8 June to 20 June 2005 among households equipped with an adapter
*Source: Médiamétrie / Mediamat – DTT-equipped households (average Monday - Sunday / 3am – 3am)
**Source: Médiamétrie / Mediamat – W9 initialised households (average coverage –60 second threshold)
Annual Report 2005
51
growth over the next 5 years,
which would enable W9 to
be received by 17 million, or
75 % of French households
by 2010.
W9 is also available on
mobile phone (Orange and
Bouygues by 3G mobile
phone).
17 million French households
will be receiving W9 in 2010
20
17 M
18
Digital channels
W9 benefits from real
broadcasting power, as it is
present on all broadcasting
networks (cable, satellite,
DSL, DTT). It is the 4th most
broadcast digital channel as
7 million or 25% of French
households receive it.
Estimates on DTT
development forecast rapid
Diversification
DTT broadcasting
M6 Free to air
FOCUS ON...
16
TPS
14
12
10
8
7M
6
An interactive channel
W9 prioritises proximity to its audience and allows its viewers to express themselves and
take part in programmes (by phone, internet or text messages): with W9 Hits, viewers can
send their dedications and communicate everyday with the channel; in Made in Manga, viewers vote for the winning series; finally, the w9.fr website brings the channel to net surfers
who can avail of exclusive content and video clips of the best moments.
Financial Report
The magazine En quête
d’Action describes
the journey of those
who lead very active lives,
from A&E staff to extreme
risk takers.
4
2
0
2005
2006
(Source: M6 estimates)
Annual Report 2005
2007
2008
2009
2010
Financial Report
TPS
Diversification
Digital channels
M6 Free to air
52
2005 was
a year of aggressive
marketing for the Group
as it launched
3 new channels.
Channel
synergy for a
powerful offering
TEVA
Since its creation in 1996, Téva has been one of the most widely broadcast channels. It is
available to nearly 13 million subscribers on all existing mediums: satellite (TPS and CanalSat), cable (Noos, Upc, Numéricable), DSL (TPSL, CanalSatdsl, Free, 9 télécom, Alice) and
mobile phone (Orange). Téva is the 4th most popular with subscribers under 50 year old
housewives* and 64% of its audience is female**.
Téva is a generalist channel, oriented towards women, which reinforced its programmes in
2005 with cult and original series such as Missing, Alias or Sex and the City, iconic cinema
or surprising and exclusive reality TV formats (Top Models USA, Projet Haute Couture, Relooking Extreme).
This rich and diversified programming is based on daring and identity magazines, such as
Les Dossiers de Téva, presented in prime time by Marielle Fournier and Téva Déco, in which
Cendrine Dominguez transforms the home of a viewer every week. 2005 was highlighted
by the arrival of new presenters who symbolise the Téva spirit: Gwendoline Hamon, is Gwendoline, assistante de stars, while Sandrine Quétier, Frigide Barjot, Virgine Foucault and Karen
Minier strive to lay bare a famous male personality in Elles ont les moyens de vous faire parler.
*Source Médiamétrie / MédiaCabSat September 2005/ February 2006, excluding historic free-to-air channels
** 15 year old and over and wave 10 audience.
Annual Report 2005
53
M6 MUSIC HITS, M6 MUSIC ROCK, M6 MUSIC BLACK
Digital channels
M6 Free to air
M6 Music Hits, M6 Music Rock and M6 Music Black were launched in 2005 and are the 3
must-have channels for music lovers. After one year of existence, their offering achieved
3.8% audience ratings among 15 to 24 year olds on TPS. M6 Music Hits is the 2nd music
channel on cable and satellite TV for 15 to 34 year olds*.
Each of these 3 channels offers live performances, events and shows that include the best
of today’s music: all current hits on M6 Music Hits, rock and heavy metal on M6 Music Rock,
urban music (French hip-hop, ragga, R’n’B, reggae) on M6 Music Black. Max et Charlie,
Linda Lacoste, Ariane Pour and Francis Zégut are the representatives of these 3 channels
broadcast by cable TV (Noos, Numéricable), satellite TV (TPS), DSL (TPSL, Free, 9 Télécom), and mobile phone (Orange, SFR). M6 Music Hits is also available on M6 Mobile by
Orange and Bouygues Telecom.
Fun TV was launched in 1997 and is one of the 10 preferred channels for 15-24 year olds*.
It brings together 1.8 million viewer on this subscriber segment and recorded 13% growth
among 15-34 year olds** in only 6 months. Fun TV is more than ever a teenage idol.
Its unique, impertinent and distinctive format matches the expectation of the channel’s
audience and offers programmes designed around humour, music or celebrities. The best
examples are Bouge ton Boule, Pelle et Râteau, Fun people, le Pensionnat Anglais, as well
as Michael Youn or Corneille special shows. Magloire and Jenny Del Pino are the emblematic presenters of the channel.
*(Source Médiamétrie / MédiaCabSat September 2005/ February 2006 – excluding historic free-to-air channels)
**( Increase of a quarter of an hour on average for wave 10 versus wave 9).
Annual Report 2005
Financial Report
FUN TV
TPS
Diversification
*Source Médiamétrie / MédiaCabSat September 2005/ February 2006
54
Série Club
Digital channels
M6 Free to air
Série Club has over 5.4 million subscribers and is broadcast on cable TV and satellite TV
(TPS). It ranks 4th among subscriber under 50 year old housewives* and continues to attract
the 15 to 49 year olds who constitute 51% of its audience, a 12 % increase over the past
6 months.
Its positioning is simple and clear: Série Club is the only 100% series channel. The series
channel pursued its innovation policy in 2005 with new, never shown before series: The king
of Las Vegas, Pacific homicide (n°1 series in Australia) and Miracles.
It also broadcast a large number of recent series that were awaited the audience, such as
Taken, Stargate Atlantis, Glory Days, Haunted or Mysterious ways.
About once a month, Série Club makes big news with series such as Emmy Awards, Screenings , the Taken special night and the Serial remake night. Finally, Série Club has been developing a policy since September 2005 in terms of magazines dedicated to series, with 100%
séries presented by Sandra Lou and Hollywood séries.
Financial Report
TPS
Diversification
*(Source Médiamétrie / MédiaCabSat September 2005/ February 2006, excluding historic free-to-air channels)
** Wave 10 versus wave 9 audience.
TF6
5.9 million individuals have subscribed to TF6 (TPS and cable TV). The channel is performing very well and is TPS first channel on nearly all audience segments.
In order to attract young adults, TF6 offers very ambitious programming: no less than
10 star presenters (Cauet and his team, Virginie Efira, Céline Balitran, Denis Brogniart,
Karine Ferri, Flavie Flament, Élodie Gossuin, Vincent Mac Doom, etc.), nearly 200 great
films (Ransom, Hart’s War or The Fast and The Furious), prime time series (24 Hours, Dr
House, L.A. Dragnet), the best of young adult series during the day (Smallville, Angel, Newport Beach, Scott Brothers, etc.) and reality TV formats broadcast in France for the first
time (Myriam et les garçons, Miss Swan, The Starlet, Miss Macho, as well as Britney & Kevin:
Chaotic).
Thanks to this editorial line and in spite of its low access to viewers, TF6 ranks among the
first three channels for all 15 to 49 year old viewers, with 1.4% audience rating for under
50 year old housewives and 1.3% audience rating for the under 50 year old audience
respectively. TF6 is also very popular with young adults: it is the third channel for 15 to
24 year olds with 1.4% audience ratings.
*(Source Médiamétrie / MédiaCabSat September 2005/ February 2006)
Annual Report 2005
Financial Report
TPS
Diversification
Digital channels
M6 Free to air
55
Annual Report 2005
Financial Report
TPS
Diversification
Digital channels
M6 Free to air
56
Annual Report 2005
29,8%
Diversification
Diversification
Digital channels
M6 Free to air
57
Financial Report
TPS
is the diversification and audiovisual rights
contribution to M6 Group revenues
Annual Report 2005
TPS
Diversification
Digital channels
M6 Free to air
58
Publications,
Discs and
Events
With the establishment
of M6 Interactions in 1992
and M6 Événements in 1997,
M6 very quickly entered
areas other than television by
initiating new expertise in
publishing (press, music,
collections, etc.) and events.
KEY FIGURES
9 million
Financial Report
number of products sold
on newsstands by M6
Interactions
24 %
growth in Discs sales
volume in 2005 compared
to 2004
Annual Report 2005
59
• Discoveries : M6 Interactions is known for its talent in discovering new artists:
The main discovery of the year, just as O-Zone in 2004, was Ilona who achieved the best
single sales in France in 2005 and held 1st place of Top Single for 15 consecutive weeks
with Un monde parfait. The group Dezil from the Seychelles, with their single San Ouh, double platinum disc, was the summer’s discovery. Finally, after Amel Bent, a terrific revelation
to the public with a musical victory (her single Ma Philosophie held 3rd place among the best
singles in France), Myriam Abel, the winner of Nouvelle Star, had an immediate success
with Donne which went to n°2 on the first week of its release.
• Real values : M Pokora, a young French R&B star, followed since his debut by M6 Interactions, won this year 2 NRJ Music Awards. His 2nd album went straight to n°1 on its release.
Lorie continued to ride her wave of success with her last album, Rester la même, a platinum disc.
Annual Report 2005
M6 Événements business
operates in two areas: firstly,
the creation, promotion and
co-production of shows and
secondly corporate events.
M6 Événements is coproducer of the show Arrête
de pleurer Pénélope whose
success is ongoing: almost
60,000 spectators saw this
show in 2005. With this
success, M6 Événements is
co-producing, in 2006,
Arrête de pleurer Pénélope 2
and its equivalent “male”
version Des soucis et des
hommes (provisional title).
This M6 event subsidiary is
associated with a number of
Digital channels
shows such as Holiday on
ice, Gary Kurtz and the
musical comedies Don Juan
and Elvis Story and also coproduced the long awaited
return of the famous musical
comedy Notre Dame de
Paris as well as the show
Attention Mesdames et
Messieurs.
In 2005, M6 Événements
continued to extend its
corporate business with the
organisation of around thirty
events during the year.
Diversification
In a difficult market, discs achieved a satisfactory year with volume growth of 24% for 10.3 million items sold in 2005. While newsstands sales fell by 48% (compilation and music DVDs),
those in the traditional network grew by 30%. This performance is explained by the significant growth in the number of singles and compilations sold (up 56% and 8% respectively).
Events
TPS
Discs
FOCUS ON...
Financial Report
Via its M6 Interactions subsidiary, M6 has now become an undisputed player in distribution
on newsstands, as the 4th largest in the market. The Group sold around 9 million products
in 2005.
Publishing includes collections, video games and CD Roms as well as DVDs including single items. The year 2005 was a year of considerable investments.
• Collection : 6 new collections were released in 2005 including major successes such
as Les miniatures Renault, La Grande Parade des Chevaux and the Jean Gabin DVD collection. 2006 has started well with the launch in January of 3 new collections including La
Légende du Dakar or Les Légendes du Cinéma Français.
• Video games and CD Roms : over 30 video games for PCs and Playstation were marketed in 2005, including the best known such as Alexandra Ledermann 4, Driv3r, Medal
of Honor and Crash TwinSanity.
• DVDs: : while continuing the exclusive sale in newsstands of successful films or series
such as Alexandre, Danny The Dog or Kaamelott, the video business was enriched with cult
offerings (Star Wars, Indiana Jones, The Godfather) and new or original programmes such
as Bruce Lee, Mike Tyson, Cerrone, La Légende de la Course Auto etc.
M6 Free
to air
La Télévision
gratuite
Publishing available on newsstands
Digital channels
M6 Free to air
60
M6 Éditions
The year 2005 was a
year of development
for the Publishing
business with
additional titles
Diversification
KEY FIGURES
7
number of
M6 Éditions titles
TPS
250,000
distribution of Fan 2,
the oldest M6 Éditions
title (1997) and the leader
of the youth press
Youth press
Editions is a significant player in the market for youth press with 3 titles with specific themes relevant to this population:
• news about stars: 1st magazine launched by M6 in 1997, Fan 2 has become the leader
of youth press with sales close to 250,000 copies
• music: set up in 2003, the monthly Hit Machine Girl has a print run of 150,000 copies
• mangas: Manga Hits launched in 2004 and offers its readers the best of manga news
with its original and preview publications.
Women
At the beginning of 2006, M6 strengthened its position in free press and women’s market
by taking a shareholding of the free monthly Femme en ville (9 editions per year). Femme
en Ville is the leading women’s magazine at the top of the range for free press and is distributed across a network of partners with 500,000 copies (OJD free press 2004). In 2004,
Femme en ville was voted the best free item in the CBNews 2005 Grand Prix des Médias.
Men
Following the success of the Turbo programme, M6 launched its 1st magazine dedicated to
the automobile, Auto Turbo, in November 2005, as a co-publication with the leader in the
Motor Press sector. This is published monthly and 90,000 copies were distributed for the first
2 editions. The magazine seeks to be close to the reader and dedicates a lot of space to
visuals, with each test covering a minimum of 6 pages. The added feature of Auto Turbo is
also to focus on the scale of pleasure and entertainment with subjects such as Stars, Extrême,
Actu and Shopping, within a very dynamic format. M6 also became the leading shareholder
in the free monthly Homme en ville, with 300,000 copies distributed on average for each
edition. A general top of the range magazine for men, Homme en ville is designed for urban
socio-professional men aged 25 to 49 years old.
Financial Report
Books news
Inspired by programmes broadcast, M6 Éditions co-edited a number of books: advice, tips
and hints from Super Nanny to help overwhelmed parents in her book Prenez en main
l’éducation de vos enfants. Following La cuisine de Cyril, Cyril Lignac gave the benefit of
its know-how to all would-be chefs with Oui Chef! C’est moi qui cuisine.
M6 Éditions also entered the world of comics by adapting the series Léa Parker and Caméra
Café (3 volumes published and 300,000 copies sold), as well the Barbapapa cartoon.
Annual Report 2005
61
M6 Free to air
FOCUS ON...
KEY FIGURES
distribution points
230,000
copies monthly
16.6 years
82 %
of readers are students
TPS
the readers average age
1h43
the average reading time
per magazine
71 %
of readers read Citato
monthly
(Source Ipsos Média – December
2005 Satisfaction survey)
Annual Report 2005
Diversification
2,200
Financial Report
M6 Interactions became
majority shareholder in Citato
during August 2005.
Launched one year earlier,
Citato provides an overview
of the French press. It offers
young, 15 to 20 year old
people, a monthly selection
of the leading features in the
daily press and magazines.
The purpose of this
newspapers’ magazine is to
help young people discover
the press by relating major
news topics (culture, sports,
fashion, etc.) and by
exposing the variety of points
of view . Produced in
partnership with the leading
newspapers, Citato is issued
free with 230,000 copies in
schools, universities.
Digital channels
Citato,
“the newpapers’
magazine”
800,000 songs are
available on
legal downloads
on m6music.fr
Digital channels
M6 Free to air
62
Around fifty internet sites
With an average of 1.5 million unique visitors per month, m6.fr strengthened its 2nd place
most visited media site. M6 also was among the top 30 most visited sites* in 2005. The
expertise of M6 Web staff is based on the control and proposal of several specific editorial
content. The turbo.fr site (3rd automobile site for all categories with 650,000 unique visitors)
which celebrated its 5th anniversary this year is a good example with a number of exclusive
reports on up to date automobile news. The portal m6.fr follows the news of the channel
develops adapted and enriched content and offers a number of innovative and entertaining
services for its surfers such as Habbo Hotel (close to 500,000 members in December), a
virtual community targeting the 13 to 16 year olds. Another illustration of the dynamism of
the internet site: the music download site M6music.fr which considerably extended its music
offering during 2005: the number of titles available for legal download increased by 60%
to 800,000.
In 2006, M6 Web will develop its community offering in all its forms: blogs, forums or virtual
worlds to respond to the growing demand from surfers.
Financial Report
TPS
Diversification
Interactive devices
Multimedia / Internet and
Interactive devices
At the heart of a convergence
strategy for the M6 Group,
the multimedia subsidiary
M6 Web, runs operations
related to the internet, interactive
devices and mobile phones.
M6 Web continues to innovate and renew interactive devices by rolling out a number of
devices that enable television viewers to participate in quizzes, games, to vote, etc. These
devices encourage closeness with the viewers of M6 programmes (Nouvelle Star, Morning Café, Star Six Music, Tubissimo, etc.) as well as on the Group’s digital channels
(games, SMS).
Production of mobile contents
M6 Web produces editorial content for the mobile phone: music, videos, games, contents
of programmes accessible from Mobile Internet sites, myM6, Turbo and M6 mobile.
Exploration of new technologies in 2006
The year 2005 marked a turning point in the evolution of the French audiovisual market with
the development of the internet, the growth in digital products, the increased penetration of
high-tech equipment in households etc. As part of this dynamic, M6 Web will seek to develop new services for surfers on all the new supports in 2006: DVB-H broadcasting, video
on demand, video on mobile, podcast, web 2.0 etc.
* Source Médiamétrie/NetRatings
** November 2005, source Nielsen Netrating
Annual Report 2005
63
M6 Free to air
FOCUS ON...
M6 Mobile by Orange, a benchmark for 15 to 25 year olds*
which was more than double
the target set, against a
background of increased
competition marked by
a multiplication of virtual
mobile operators (MVNO)
targeting younger people.
This success is based on
Orange’s expertise in mobile
phones and that of M6 in the
area of content, communication and distribution via
distance selling; The two M6
Mobile offers, launched in
June and November 2005
respectively, target the 15 to
25 year olds and offer an
innovative formula combining
the advantages of a fixed
price and unlimited use*.
M6 Mobile retains a
privileged link with M6 with
the M6 Mobile Club (games,
personalisation, information
* Unlimited calls in a period of
hours on all the orange and M6
Mobile numbers.
on broadcasts, the
stars,etc.). The offering
attracted subscribers: 96%
of customers are willing to
recommend M6 Mobile**,
and 47% of buyers stated
that the arrival of M6 mobile
led to their purchase**.
Mobile phone
penetration
among 11 to
19 year olds *
**.Study of M6 Mobile by
Orange customer knowledge,
carried out in July and August
2005 by TNS Sofres
Digital channels
The year 2005 was marked
by the successful launch
of M6 Mobile by Orange,
a mobile phone offering
launched in partnership with
Orange France. The offer
attracted close to 230,000
subscribers in a half year,
Evolution of subscriber
numbers
At 21 February 2006
Diversification
300,000 subscribers
At 21 December 2005
200,000 subscribers
TPS
15 % in 2000
At 6 October 2005
72 % in 2006
9 June 2005: launch
J
* (Source 2006 Consojunior Study
from TNS Média Intelligence)
Annual Report 2005
Financial Report
100,000 subscribers
J
A
(Source, Orange)
S
O
N
D
J
F
Cinema and audiovisual rights
KEY FIGURES
13
films distributed
by SND in 2005
500
catalogue video titles
6
Gendarmes (Le gendarme à
Saint-Tropez…) which were
included in the M6 catalogue
Multi faceted player in the cinema
arena, M6 strengthened its distribution
operations in France and abroad,
as well as its video business.
Financial Report
TPS
Diversification
Digital channels
M6 Free to air
64
Mr & Mrs Smith
recorded 3 million box
offices ticket sales,
a record for this acquisition of all the rights
Annual Report 2005
65
176 M
- 10 %
Video: success for Kaamelott and Vaillant
There were 2.86 million copies sold in DVD and VHS format with success for the Vaillant
video (305,000 copies sold), Kaamelott (224,000 copies), in all distribution channels together. The video catalogue is very varied, with over 500 titles coming from all-rights acquisitions, programmes from the M6 station, and acquisition of new catalogues. During 2005,
SND continued with its policy of acquiring rights: 15 new movies with all-rights distributions,
among them, movies with potential such as The Guardian, Michael Clayton. In 2005, SND
also acquired the catalogue of Société Nouvelle de Cinématographie (SNC): an exceptional source of over 400 classical movies from the French and Italian cinema, including Le
Mur de l’Atlantique, La piscine, L’été meurtrier, Les pétroleuses and 6 Les Gendarmes movies.
2004
2005
SND
6.5 million
+116 %
M6 Studio produced its
1st animated feature film Astérix
et les Vikings, co-produced
with 2d3D Animations
and Mandarin SAS and
in association with A Film AS.
This very ambitious project
(€ 22 million), adapted from
the book by René Goscinny
and Albert Uderzo, has been
in development since the end
of 2002. Its release in
cinemas in France is set for
12 April 2006. M6 Studio
has been through all the steps
in the making of this animated
film, from its creation to its
distribution. In addition, the
film’s soundtrack bears the
signature of Céline Dion with
the single Tous mes secrets,
co-produced with M6
Interactions. An integral part
of our cultural heritage, a
benchmark for all ages, Astérix
and his friends will be
distributed in every European
country and other international
markets: Germany, Spain,
Benelux, Scandinavia,
Portugal, Greece, Switzerland,
Russia, Canada, Eastern
Europe, Turkey, Indonesia,
India, Taiwan, Brazil, etc.
M6 Free to air
196 M
M6 Studio: The Astérix adventure
Digital channels
France
FOCUS ON...
Diversification
In 2005, SND distributed 13 films in cinemas generating 6.5 million box office ticket sales.
The company is classified as the 12th largest distributor in France. The cinema operations
achieved success in a tight market, with Mr & Mrs Smith attracting an audience of close to
3 million in France, a record for the company since it was established. Also noteworthy is
the performance of Vaillant, the animated movie (audience of 1.15 million), Il ne faut jurer
de rien (audience of 890,000) and Shall we dance (an audience of 620,000). Promising
films are awaited for the cinema and in video in 2006, particularly Lord of War, and Underworld 2. In 2006, the international distribution business will see the release of Astérix et les
Vikings.
Evolution of box office
ticket sales in 2005
TPS
Film distribution:
SND 12th largest distributor in France
Financial Report
3 million
2004
2005
(Source : Estimations baromètre FNCF)
Annual Report 2005
Distance selling
In 2005, the distance
selling business joined home
shopping and e-commerce.
Digital channels
M6 Free to air
66
Home Shopping Service pays particular attention to customer loyalty. They benefited in
2005 from the most recent technological advances: interactive remote control, SMS
alerts when their product is ready, voice server, payment in 3 instalments, delivery facilities, etc. With the successful merger of television, the internet and the telephone, Home
Shopping Service controls the complete distribution circuit by providing the best service.
Home Shopping Service adapts to the changes in distance selling and develops an ambitious and rounded, distribution strategy.
The creation of programmes supplying
36 television channels
Home Shopping Service produces 230 hours of new programmes per month. Each programme is made and targeted depending on media used for distribution. 34 channels
benefit from the filming of these programmes in France (including M6 Boutique la Chaîne,
Téva, Série Club, Paris Première, Cuisine TV), 2 in Belgium (RTL-TV, AB4) and 2 in the
Netherlands (Yorin and RTL4).
A 24-7 channel
Diversification
Since 29 April 2004, M6 Boutique la Chaîne, a virtual large outlet on the small screen, broadcasts 8 hours live per day and offers 300 new products per week. The number of active
customers in the last 12 months exceeded 100,000 to reach 112,000 at the end of December, a 25% increase in the year.
Catalogues, infomercials and internet sites
TPS
Distance selling requires the development of a multitude of ways to best respond to customer needs: over 6 million mail order sales catalogues were distributed in 2005, 30 internet
sites receive 450,000 visitors every month (close to 20% of sales) and the infomercial programmes are constantly growing.
Financial Report
Home Shopping
Service is the
European leader in
distance selling
Home Shopping Service :
A distribution and multi-channel broadcast strategy
A 100% subsidiary since 1998, Home Shopping Service today dominates the sale on
television with 55% of the French and Benelux markets, 700 hours of programmes
broadcast per week, 2 million active customers and 2.5 million products sold in 2005.
A boutique
For 5 years, Home Shopping Service never stopped growing its business: a 24-7 channel,
positioning on the Dutch market, etc. On 28 November, a new outlet was opened in the center of Paris. By opening an outlet, the M6 Boutique name thus satisfied the customers reluctant to purchase at a distance as well as the impatient customers who can now leave immediately with their purchase. A real shop window, the outlet offers, on close to 200m2 over 2
levels, products for health, beauty, slimming, multi-media, houses sold exclusively on the M6
programme. The concept remains the same for all customers with presenters on site and
around forty television screens broadcasting the method of use and advantages of each product.
Annual Report 2005
67
2004 and 2005)*
Mistergooddeal.com is
among the Top 10 French
merchant sites in terms of
visits. The acquisition of
Mistergooddeal.com gives
rise to a Television-Internet
revolutionary combination in
business, and constitutes
an opportunity to
accelerate growth and
development of distance
selling for the M6 Group.
Sustained by strong
complementary commercial
and operational features,
this alliance, which
combines the power
of television, the experience
of distance selling and
the growth of the Internet,
gives a new dimension
to the home shopping and
e-commerce business of
the M6 group.
(*Source : Acsel, FEVAD,
ARCEP)
High speed* internet penetration
in France (in million)
Strong growth in the
e-commerce market
9.46
Number of on-line buyers in the 3rd
and 4th quarter 2005
Scale of
e-commerce
market in 2005:
8.7 billion
3rd quarter
Annual Report 2005
13.4 million
Purchasing is 1.3 times
more developed among
high speed internet surfers
6.56
+ 26 %
vs Q4
2004
0.20
4th quarter
2000
Financial Report
12 million
MisterGoodDeal
is the 1st on-line
commercial site
to have established
its own national
collection network
with 11 pick up
points.
TPS
In 2005, the M6 group
acquired the
mistergooddeal.com site,
one of the leading players
in e-commerce, the leader
in inventory liquidation for
major brands on the
internet. Driven by the
increase in high-speed
connections (over 44%
increase in people with
high-speed lines between
2004 and 2005) and the
evolution in purchasing
behaviour, (a 26% increase
in purchases on line
between the 4th quarters of
Diversification
The development towards
e-commerce with the acquisition
of MisterGoodDeal
Digital channels
M6 Free to air
FOCUS ON...
+ 44 %
2004
2005
Financial Report
TPS
Diversification
Digital channels
M6 Free to air
68
GIRONDINS DE BORDEAUX FOOTBALL CLUB IN FIGURES
5
players selected for
the national team
9
players in the
professional team from
the training centre
11 %
increase in sales
by the Club between
2004 and 2005
Girondins de Bordeaux
Football Club
A high level team and a club achieving
financial breakeven
Annual Report 2005
69
A dynamic training centre
The Club successfully continues its strategy of increasing emphasis on training: 9 players
in the professional team for 2005-2006 came from the training centre, including the goalkeeper Mathieu Valverde, Rio Mavuba and the striker Marouane Chamakh, one the club’s
best goal scorers. The training centre led to a number of selections in each age group. In
addition, the reserve team trained by Patrick Battiston won the French championship for
professional reserves.
In 2005, the Club developed with the creation of a boutique for derived products in the château du Haillan and the start-up of the École Technique Privée FC Girondins de Bordeaux
which welcomes budding players.
Ligue 1 ranking on the 32th day of the 2005-2006 season
Annual Report 2005
1 - (OL) Lyon
69 points
2 - (FCGB) Bordeaux
60 points
3 - (LOSC) Lille
53 points
100 % Girondins : the best
of the club every match night on
W9 and TPS
The programme 100%
Girondins was launched on
30 July 2005. This
programme is produced
by the FC Girondins
de Bordeaux and presented
by Jean-Philippe Doux,
a journalist at the M6 news
desk, and Marius Trésor,
French champion with the
club in 1984. At the end
of each of the Girondins
de Bordeaux match in
Ligue 1, 100% Girondins
provides one hour
summarising through
images, followed by
a magazine dedicated
to meetings and to the Club
(post match interviews,
analyses, behind the
scenes). The programme
100% Girondins is
broadcast on W9 and TPS
on the night the matches are
played since January 2006.
Diversification
Digital channels
M6 Free to air
FOCUS ON...
TPS
Although the 2004-2005 season was one of transition on the sporting level, the 20052006 season confirmed the status of FC Girondins as one of the great French clubs. The
Club found a further impetus within the French championship (Ligue 1).
A South American flavour was added with the arrival of Ricardo Gomez Raymundo as a
manager: he was previously a defender and coach with PSG. New players joined the team:
the Brazilian world champion Denilson, Smicer, from Liverpool (2005 European champion),
Cheyrou, formerly from Marseille, Henrique and Beto (In the winter transfer season). Several players were selected for their national team: Chamakh (Morocco), Smicer (Czech Republic), Jurietti (France), Mavuba and Faubert (French A Team)
Financial Report
A year of sporting changes
Financial Report
TPS
Diversification
Digital channels
M6 Free to air
70
TPS
TPS experienced a year of change with
a stabilised number of subscribers, an
enriched programme offering, the extension
to new broadcasting mediums, numerous
developments in terms of service provided
and the conclusion of a combination project
with the Canal+ Group.
An enriched programme offering:
23 new digital channels
In 2005, TPS offering was enriched with the launch of 23 new channels, including 7 on DTT. All
themes were represented: music (M6 Music Hits, M6 Music Black and Rock, NRJ 12 and Europe2
TV), cinema (Ciné FX, Ciné Polar, TPS CinéComedy and TPS Ciné Club), small generalist channels (W9, NT1, TMC), discovery (Ushuaïa TV, exclusive to TPS), news (BFM TV), sport (Eurosport
2), programmes for adults (Spice Platinum), events (Star Academy 5), astrology (Astrocenter.TV)
and children programmes (Baby TV, Gulli).
In addition, TPS reinforced its football offering:
• The greatest clubs’ TV channels, such as OLTV, OM TV and Real Madrid TV broadcast match highlights, on-the-spot interviews, live training sessions, exclusive interviews of players and managers, etc.;
• TPS Foot, the 100% football channel broadcasts exclusive matches, original magazines, a selection of the best goals of the season, behind the scenes footage of the greatest European clubs, etc.;
• TPS Star also broadcast the Confederation Cup during the second half of June 2005.
In sport again, TPS signed an exclusive contract for all boxing fights organised by Don King until
2006. TPS Star will thus offer the most prestigious boxing nights every month live from the US, as
well as a magazine dedicated to the greatest boxers.
Annual Report 2005
TPS innovated in 2005 in order to provide its subscriber with exclusive high-tech services:
High-definition TV
TPS optimises the broadcasting quality of its programmes by developing High Definition (HD).
A TPS HD option was offered at the end of November and over 7,000 subscribers have taken
it up. These subscribers should all be equipped with HD terminals by the end of March. Customers are very satisfied* with this service: 92% of subscribers declared that “the advent of
HD programmes convinced them to stay with TPS” and 83% of subscribers are “very interested by future HD programmes”*. This new offering enhances TPS image and strengthens
subscribing motivation. Thus, TPS is perceived by 95% of subscribers as being “ahead of the
game in terms of technology”.
On-demand video service
On 15 November 2005, TPS launched its video on-demand service (VOD), providing subscribers with a new alternative to access a selection of recent films, at any time and for every
mood. There are two on-line shops, tpsvod.fr and multivision-vod.fr.
Mobile TV
In October 2005, TPS initiated mobile TV (Edge with Bouygues Télécom and DVB-H with
Orange and Bouygues Télécom). At 31 December 2005, 13,239 early adopters could watch
the TPS offering on their mobiles.
* (Source: Panel On The Web Study, from 10 to 20 February 2006, on 191 subscribers who booked a HD terminal).
Annual Report 2005
Digital channels
The M6 and TF1 Groups, holding
34% and 66% of TPS, respectively,
as well as Vivendi Universal Group,
shareholder of Canal+ Group,
announced in December a project
relating to the combination of their
pay TV activities.
Until now, TPS and CanalSat, the 2
French distribution platforms were
in a position of direct competition.
The market background and
equilibrium have now disrupted by
a number of factors: rapid evolution
of digital distribution technologies,
development of free offers, entry
of new powerful participants
(telecommunication operators,
internet access providers) on
the pay TV market and a regulatory
framework that does
not apply the same way to all
participants. The objective of the
agreement is to constitute a new
group with the critical size required
to cope with the new competition,
by developing an enriched and
competitive pay TV offering
to the consumers’ benefit.
The agreement signed on 6 January
2006 is subject to approval by
French competition authorities.
Diversification
Development of new services
FOCUS ON...
The TPS/Vivendi
agreement
TPS
TPS is banking on DSL and continues to extend this broadcasting medium with the majority
of operators:
• with France Télécom: TPS pursued the rollout of television by phone line in 2005 by connecting new cities: Besançon, Angers, Le Mans, La-Roche-sur-Yon, Les Sables d’Olonne, Poitiers, Saint-André, Haubourdin, Menton, Mulhouse, Aix-en-Provence etc. Therefore, nearly
8.5 million households were able to access to MaLigne tv and TPS through their phone line
(compared to 4.7 million at 31 December 2004). TPS ADSL market share of new subscribers gained through France Télécom is estimated at 48% for the whole of 2005;
• with Neuf Télécom: in May 2005, TPS launched 4 phone line packages for Neuf Télécom customers through Neuf’s TV decoder;
• with Alice: the whole TPS offering was available on Alice TV in November 2005.
Financial Report
New broadcasting mediums
M6 Free to air
71
Financial Report
TPS
Diversification
Digital channels
M6 Free to air
72
Financial
Report
Annual Report 2005
Contents
Financial Accounts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
A. Consolidated Financial Statements IFRS 2005 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
B. Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
C. Parent Company Financial Statements IFRS 2005 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
D. Notes to the Parent Company Financial Statements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
Legal Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
1. Corporate Governance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
2. Information on the Company and its Share Capital . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
3. General Meeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
4. AMF References Document Table of Contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
Annual Report 2005
Legal Information
Management Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Financial accounts
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Financial Report
Group Structure
Management Report
73
t
M6
Opérations
SAS
t
Développement
t
M6 Affaires
SAS
t
M6 Création
SAS
t
M6
Toulouse
SAS
t
M6
Bordeaux
SAS
t
SCI du 107 av
Ch. de Gaulle
Immobilière
M6
SAS
M6
METROPOLE TELEVISION – SA – Broadcaster (as of 31December 2005)
100 %
M6
Thématique
SAS
t
H.S.S.
SA
t
SNC
SAS
M6 Éditions
SA
TCM Droits
Audiovisuels
SNC
99.97%
90%
99.82%
100%
Culture mag
Editions
SNC
TCM
Gestion
SA
CITATO
SARL
34%
M6 Web
SAS
99.99%
TECIPRESS
SAS
Boutique du
monde
SAS
Télévente
Promotion
SA
80%
100%
t
t
t
M6 Free to Air
Digital channels
and Satellite
t
100%
93.25%
99.76%
t
SAS
99.99%
Club
télé-Achat
SNC
100%
Production
Unité 15
Belgique
t
LIVE STAGE
SAS
t
t
M6 Studio
SAS
34%
6,75 %
99.9%
100%
99%
t
FUN TV
SNC
t
PINK TV
SAS
TPS Gestion
SA
t
TF6
SCS
t
t
50 %
TPS
SNC
Unité 15
SAS
99.97%
t
TF6 Gestion
SA
t
50 %
t
t
50%
H.S.S.
Belgique
t
t
100 %
99%
16.67%
50%
S.E.T.V.
sté coopérative
t
99,99 %
M6
Événements
SA
Mandarin
SAS
1%
M6
Numérique
SNC
Mister
gooddeal
SA
t
99.97%
100 %
t
F.C. Girondins
de Bordeaux
SASP
16.67%
M6
Diffusion
SA
95%
t
t
t
t
Extension TV
SERIE CLUB
SA
99.99%
9.15%
Advertising
t
t
99.76%
t
PARIS
PREMIERE
SA
49.88%
STUDIO 89
SAS
99.76%
M6
Interactions
SAS
SA
t
t
SEDI TV
téva
SNC
100%
SAS
t
t t
EDI TV
M6 music
SNC
M6
Communication
t
50%
W9
Productions
SAS
t
92.88%
t
25.5%
99.99%
t
Metropolest
SA
M6 FOOT
SAS
Sté Nouvelle
de Distribution
t
99.97%
51%
t
49%
t
16.67%
25.5%
Labo
Productions
SARL
100%
t
t
t
t
99.98%
99.96%
t
Métropole
Production
SA
t
C.
Productions
SA
7.12%
t
99.99%
t
16.67%
MULTI4
SAS
t
Informations financières
99.98%
t
M6 Films
SA
t
M6 Publicité
SAS
Informations juridiques
100 %
t
100%
Financial Report
1.58%
t
Newsports
SAS
20%
t
European
news
Exchange
t
Group structure
74
Football
Publishing, Discs, Events
Video and films distribution
Diversification and audiovisual rights
Distance Selling
Other
Local stations
Property
Annual Report 2005
Management Report
Management Report
75
1. M6 Group Presentation in 2005 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76
3. Financial Structure and Cash Flows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .93
4. Cash flow Management Policy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .94
5. Investment Policy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .95
6. Off-Balance Sheet Commitments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .95
Financial accounts
2. M6 Group Businesses Financial Results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82
7. Significant Post-Balance Sheet Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .96
8. 2006 Outlook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .96
10. Change in Accounting Principles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .97
11. Compliance with General Obligations and Agreement terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .97
12. Share Capital . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .97
Legal Information
9. Tax Grouping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .96
13. Risk Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .111
14. Significant Contracts signed over the last 24 months . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .116
16. Exceptional Events and Litigation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .119
17. Statutory Auditors’ Fees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .120
18. Annual Information Document . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .121
19. Other Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .122
Annual Report 2005
Financial Report
15. Human Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .116
Management Report
76
1. M6 Group presentation in 2005s
1.1. Group structurei
changess
Financial Report
Legal Information
Financial accounts
In 2005, the Group strengthened its position in its Diversification operations, with the following impacts on Group structure:
Distance selling
On 15 November 2005, HSS acquired 95% of the share capital of Mistergooddeal, a leading French e-commerce participant and the leader in major brand inventory liquidation on the
internet.
This acquisition is a major opportunity to support the development of the Group’s distance selling operations. Mistergooddeal has been fully consolidated with effect from 15 November 2005.
The Group has signed an undertaking to purchase the remaining 5% of the share capital held by the management team.
In addition, during the financial year HSS disposed of its joint
or minority shareholdings, in order to streamline its offering
and investment portfolio, as follows:
• On 19 July 2005, HSS disposed of its 20% investment
in RTL Shop, a home-shopping company operating in Germany, to RTL Interactive GmbH (RTL Group). The investment in RTL Shop was equity accounted up to 2004.
• On 14 October 2005, HSS sold its 50% investment in
Home Travel Services, a company developed in conjunction with a travel agent, which was consolidated pro-rata
until the disposal date.
Publishing
On 1 August 2005, M6 Interactions acquired 80% of Citato,
which publishes a free magazine, printed in about 200,000
copies distributed to 15 to 20 year old readers. This magazine gives an overview of French press through a monthly
selection of articles from large circulation newspapers.
Citato was fully consolidated in Group financial statements
from 1 August 2005.
The Group is committed to purchase the remaining 20% held
by the founders of the magazine in 2007.
Audiovisual rights
On 29 April 2005, M6 made the acquisition of 100% of Société
Nouvelle de Cinématographie (SNC) from Bayard d’Antin (RTL
Group).
SNC owns a catalogue of over 400 films, primarily comprised
of very successful and classic French films. Thus, the Group
significantly reinforced its audiovisual right management and
distribution activities.
SNC has been fully-consolidated by the Group since 1 April
2005, since the transaction was based on SNC financial statements as of 31 March 2005.
Simplification in the Audiovisual Rights segment also resulted in the dissolution and merger of M6 DA into SND on 1
July 2005.
Digital channels
2005 also saw the launch of M6 Music (Edi TV) on the
DTT on 31 March 2005, under the name of W9.
The programming of the young adult channel is primarily comprised of music, but also includes the broadcasting of series,
films and entertainment programmes.
The Group also extended its portfolio of musical channels broadcast on cable and satellite networks with the launch
on 10 January 2005 of M6 Music Rock and M6 Music Black,
followed in March 2005 by M6 Music Hits. These three channels are carried by M6 Communication, a fully consolidated
subsidiary since 1 January 2005.
Finally, the application of IFRS resulted in the extension of the consolidation scope to companies whose
operations are insignificant or non existent. The following companies were thus fully consolidated:
• M6 Création, M6 Opération, M6 Développement and M6
Affaires (fully held companies with no turnover),
• Labo Prod, a fully held production company since the purchase of the 49% minority interest during the second yearhalf,
• and Multiplex R4, a GIE (economic interest group) of which
M6 Group holds 58.35% of the share capital and which is
in charge of all technical operations necessary to the transmission and the broadcast in terrestrial free-to air digital
mode (DTT) of the programmes of six different channels
(M6, W9, Paris Première, TF6, AB 1 and NT 1) on the R4
frequency allocated by the CSA.
However, as a consequence of the subscription TV combination between TPS and the Canal+ Group announced on 16
December 2005 and signed on 6 January 2006 and in application of IFRS 5 “Non-current assets held for disposal and
discontinued operations”, TPS is considered as an asset held
In 2005, M6 Group experienced continued growth in its operations and results. The Group was able to anticipate the changes affecting its competitive environment, grasp opportunities
of strengthening its positions and launch new growth-generating activities.
Numerous successes were recorded for all kinds of the following programmes:
News: even better performances by emblematic channel programmes
M6’s expertise and different approach in terms of newscasts
are heartily approved of by a wide public. Reference programmes such Capital and Zone Interdite continue to progress and
brought together an average 200,000 additional viewers on
Sunday nights in 2005, compared to 2004. Six Minutes is still
the second most popular newscast for under 50 year-olds.
Growing audience levels
Despite stronger than ever competition from “Other TV channels”, further enhanced by the arrival of new free channels
within the framework of the launch of DTT, the M6 channel
performed very well in 2005 in terms of audience levels.
The network’s share of the individuals over the age of 4 audience
is 12.6%, up by 0.1 basis point, while its share of the privileged target of under 50 year-old housewife segment increased to 19.1% from 18.6% in 2004. This significant 0.5 basis
point increase enables M6 to equal its audience records of
2001 and 2002 and to confirm its rank of 2nd national channel on this segment.
M6 is establishing itself more and more as a generalist channel and was able to draw a wider audience in 2005. Thus, 26
nights attracted over 5 million viewers, compared to 17 in
2004 and 90 nights attracted over 4 million viewers, compared to 66 in 2004.
French drama: a record-breaking year
French drama is a significant development area of programme
offering, thanks to their original and family emphasis. They
were highly successful with 5.4 million viewers for Merci les
enfants vont bien and On ne prête qu’aux riches. Kaamelott,
which replaced Caméra Café on short formats, realised its
best audience level of 5.6 million viewers for its second season.
Sport: stepped-up involvement
In 2005, M6 increased its involvement in football with the
broadcasting of Olympique de Marseille’s UEFA Cup matches
and the launch of the magazine 100% Foot. Thus, 4 million
viewers watched OM’s last group game and 100% Foot attracted an average 500,000 viewers at midnight on Sunday nights.
Magazines: proximity and entertainment
M6 won over viewers with a local approach that highlights
society and every day life issues from an educational and entertaining angle. Super Nanny and C’est du propre attracted up
to 5 million and 4.6 million viewers, respectively.
International series: success of exclusive programmes
M6 again confirmed its positioning as a series reference channel with the launch of 13 new series such as Les 4400 and
Nip Tuck. M6’s highest audience rating ever for a series was
achieved on the first night of season 1 of Les 4400 (6.3 million viewers). NCIS Enquêtes Spéciales also broke its own
record this year with an audience of 6.2 million.
Cinema: creating events
The broadcasting by M6 of the 5 first episodes of the Star
Wars saga at the occasion of the box office release of Revenge
of the Sith achieved an average audience of 6.5 million. This
is the channel’s best performance on its Monday night slot.
Encouraged by these successes, M6 will pursue in 2006 its
strategy of aggressive programming, which will focus on offering more sport, more news and more drama, while developing innovative and original concepts in parallel with the channel’s flagship programmes.
In January 2006, the successful launch of 12:50, a new midday newscast presented by Anne-Sophie Lapix, the success
Financial accounts
1.2.1. Highlights s
These key nights reflect a programming that succeeded in
mixing know-how, creativity, innovation, exclusivity and events
to attract a family audience.
Event-driven shows: absolute musts
M6 made big news in 2005 with shows that left a deep impression on their audience: season 3 of La Nouvelle Star registered a record-breaking 6.5 million viewers, the Hitler, la folie
d’un homme documentary brought together 4.6 million viewers; the new programme Oui Chef!, achieved average audience
levels of 4.3 million.
Legal Information
1.2. M6 Group in 2005
A unifying programming
Financial Report
for sale in 2005. It was previously proportionally consolidated.
TPS is thus the object of a specific presentation and its net
contribution at 31 December 2005 is presented separately from
continuing operations in the consolidated financial statements.
Management Report
77
Management Report
78
of Pekin Express, broadcast on Sunday evenings and the good
performance of season 2 of Les 4400 are a testimony to the
pertinence of this strategy and enable M6 to be the only channel to record audience gains in the under 50 year-old housewife segment, with an audience share of 19.6%, compared
to 19.1% in January 2005.
Financial Report
Legal Information
Financial accounts
Outstanding advertising performance
The 2005 advertising year for M6 ended with a 4.0% net
increase in advertising revenues. This is an outstanding performance in a TV advertising market that grew by only 0.3%
in term of gross expenditures.
Market growth was adversely affected by the sharp fall in
expenditures in traditional sectors such as Food, reflecting the
uncertainties brought about to this industry by the reform of
the Galland Law. Mass consumption sectors (Food, Health &
Beauty and household products) took 43.9% of advertising
revenues, compared to 46% in 2004.
However, the Telecommunication, Service and Car industries
increased their TV advertising expenditures and chose M6 in
priority, which recorded growth above market levels in respect
of these advertisers.
In 2005, the channel attracted a growing number of advertisers to its programmes. 158 new brands were thus advertised on M6, which recorded a 1.1 basis point increase in its
gross advertising market share at 23.2%, the highest ever
level since the channel was created.
An aggressive year for digital channels
and TV
The Group’s Digital TV channels experienced an eventful
year 2005, with notably:
• The launch of new musical channels, M6 Music Hits, Black
and Rock during the first quarter of 2005,
• The launch of W9 in free DTT on 31 March. The channel
is received by all households subscribing to satellite TV, digital cable TV and ADSL, as well as 3G mobile telephony
subscribers (Orange and SFR).
Within a context of a more attractive offering development,
the channel portfolio continued to progress in terms of audience
levels and subscribing households, thanks to an ever more
attractive programme offering each year.
The channels’ advertising revenue recorded an increase of
11.7% and the contribution of thematic channels to operating profit improved, in spite of W9 start-up expenses and the
costs generated by free-to-air frequency readjustments within
the framework of DTT rollout. Paris Première was fully acquired in May 2004 and broke even in 2005 for the first time.
As for TPS, the agreement announced between the Vivendi
Universal, TF1 and M6 Groups in December 2005 is intended
to bring together their French subscription TV operations. The
objectives of the agreement is to provide consumers with a
stepped-up and richer offering in order to boost the French
subscription TV market, as well as giving the new entity the critical size necessary to cope with the upheavals affecting its
market.
The implementation of the agreement will be organised as follows:
1. Firstly, Vivendi Universal committed to purchase an 18%
stake in TPS, whatever the circumstances. This shareholding shall be reduced to 15% following the cancellation of
TPS debt. Vivendi Universal paid an advance of € 150 million in that respect to TF1 and M6 at the beginning of
January 2006. During this period, TPS and Canal+ Group
shall remain autonomous in terms of management and operations.
2. Secondly, following the approval by competent authorities, the € 150 million advance shall be repaid to Vivendi
Universal. Vivendi Universal shall then acquire 85% of a
new entity comprising Canal+ Group and TPS, by exchange
of shares with no cash adjustment. TF1 and M6 shall hold
9.9% and 5.1% of the new entity.
3. TF1 and M6 shall retain their shareholdings in the new
entity for a minimum of 3 years following the completion of
the transaction. When this deadline is passed, TF1 and M6
shall have an option to sell at market value, enabling the
two groups to fully benefit from the dynamic growth of the
new entity. This option shall provide for a minimum guaranteed amount of € 1.13 billion for 15% of the new entity,
which will thus be valued at € 7.5 billion.
An agreement made public on 17 February 2006 confirmed
that Lagardère, Canal+ Group’s partner in CanalSat, can indeed
become a shareholder of an entity including Canal+ Group
and TPS’s subscription TV operations without having a dilutive impact on TF1 and M6 shareholdings. This agreement
provides for Lagardère to acquire up to 20% of the new entity,
with a purchase option for an additional 14% three years after
the completion of the transaction.
An accelerated diversification strategy
The Group’s diversification strategy is organised around the
M6 channel and brand. It was rolled out in 2005 in order to
accelerate the development of operations, product distribution channels and content circulation.
This strategy materialised through the implementation of new
growth opportunities, in particular:
Annual Report 2005
M6 Web recorded a new year of growth for all its activities, Internet advertising, Internet services, interactivity, mobile content.
As forecast, the Girondins de Bordeaux Football Club
broke-even financially and started the 2005 / 2006 season
with a changed team performing well.
The audiovisual right activities were reinforced by the
acquisition of the SNC catalogue. The distribution and sales
activities, including cinema, video and television, recorded good
2005 performances, which resulted in a significant improvement in results.
Annual Report 2005
In respect of accounting standards, the transaction, at its realisation date, is equivalent to the disposal of 34% of TPS,
accompanied by the acquisition of a 5.1% shareholding in the
new entity.
Consequently, TPS was reclassified as an asset held for disposal as early as 31 December 2005, in accordance with
IFRS 5, Non-current assets held for sale and discontinued
activities.
As a result, the Group consolidated income statement is presented for 2004 and 2005 by separating the income statement of continuing activities from TPS contribution, net of
intra-group transactions.
In 2005, M6 Group realised consolidated turnover of € 1,274.7
million, up 6.4% on 2004. Excluding TPS, consolidated turnover would amount to € 1,079.9 million, a 6.7% increase (or
4.6% on a comparable consolidation scope) compared to the
€ 1,012.2 million achieved in 2004.
M6 TV network advertising revenues increased by 4.0%
to € 625.5 million, due in particular to the telecommunication
and service industries.
Digital TV operations registered growth of 25.9% to € 64.6
million, due to the 15% increase in the consolidation scope
(full-year consolidation of Paris Première in 2005), to a stepped up offering (the three M6 Music and W9) and to an increase
in advertising revenues.
Dynamic new activities (M6 Mobile generated € 10.1 million
in turnover) and interactivity (up 22.5%), as well as good performance by the audiovisual right selling activity offset the
decrease in turnover experienced by M6 Interactions, which
suffered from the fall in music activity revenues.
TPS contribution to Group consolidated turnover was
€ 194.8 million, compared to € 185.4 million. The 5.1% increase
was due to the combined improvement of ARPU and of the
high average number of subscribers generated by the strong
level of recruitment at the end of 2004, which had a full, favourable impact in 2005.
Considering the relative stability of other products, total consolidated operating revenues increased by 5.9% to € 1,326.8
million (€ 1,130.7 million excluding TPS).
Excluding non-current asset capital gains and non-depreciable asset writedowns, operational expenses of continuing activities increased by € 55.6 million (up 6.5%). Including TPS,
whose operational expenses remained stable from one financial year to the other, operational expenses were € 1,097.0
million.
The growth is primarily related to consumables and other operational expenses, which were € 47.9 million (up 8.3%), excluding TPS.
Companies acquired over the financial year, in particular, Mistergooddeal whose operating expenses are primarily compri-
Financial accounts
The application of IFRS 5 to the TPS and Canal+ Group merger project resulted in a significant change in Group consolidated income statements presentation.
The diversification and audiovisual right activities realised sales of € 380.3 million, an 8.0% increase over 2004.
The growth rate was 3.9% on a comparable consolidation
scope basis, as Mistergooddeal and SNC contributed € 13.2
million and € 1.1 million to turnover, respectively.
Legal Information
M6 Interactions activities were reinforced by the acquisition of Citato and the launch of the Auto-Turbo magazine but
recorded a 2005 contrasting year. In spite of a number of
great sales successes, as in the Disc activity, both turnover
and profitability declined.
1.2.2. Consolidated incomes
statements
Financial Report
• M6 mobile by Orange, a mobile telephony agreement
announced at the beginning of 2005. It was marketed from
June with a teenager-oriented attractive offering. At the end
of 2005, M6 Mobile by Orange already had 227,000 subscribers, or double initial estimates. M6 Mobile by Orange is
already providing a positive contribution to Group results.
• The acquisition of 95% de Mistergooddeal.com is a
new growth opportunity for the Group’s Distance Selling
operations. Mistergooddeal.com positioning on the buoyant
e-commerce market provides the Group with a multi-channel Home Shopping division with a significant size, as M6
Group 2006 turnover for the combined home shopping and
e-commerce activities should exceed € 200 million.
Management Report
79
Financial Report
Legal Information
Financial accounts
Management Report
80
sed of the purchase cost of goods sold, as well as new developments such as M6 Mobile contributed € 17.9 million to this
increase.
Other operating expenses also include the DTT-related cost
overrun, resulting from the increase in broadcasting costs and
frequency adjustment costs.
The balance relates to the growth in operations, in particular
the increase in programme consumables (rights held and programming flow). However, M6 programming costs remained
under control and increased by only 3.9%.
In addition, TPS recorded a slight decrease in consumables
and other operating expenses (down 1.8% or € 2.9 million).
Personnel expenses increased by € 12.2 million excluding
TPS (up 8.1%) and by € 15.2 million including TPS (up 9.1%).
The signing of an employee profit sharing plan, the increase
in the profit sharing plan reserve due to better operational
results, as well as the continued implementation of the remuneration policy through purchase and subscription option plans,
whose impact on net profit is measured in accordance with
IFRS 2 (share-based payments), also contributed to the increase.
FC Girondins de Bordeaux personnel expenses were under
control and only rose by € 0.6 million (up 2.8%).
The balance of the increase primarily results from the change
in the workforce, excluding FC Girondins de Bordeaux (up 47
employees, excluding TPS).
Non-recurrent elements, comprising capital gains and losses
on the disposal of non-current assets and non-depreciable
asset writedowns had a positive impact of € 12.5 million on
operating profit (up € 16.1 million compared to 2004).
Only Boutiques du Monde acquisition goodwill was the object
of a writedown in 2005 (€ 0.8 million), whereas writedowns
totalled € 3.6 million in 2004.
In addition, consolidated capital gains on the disposal of RTL
Shop and Home Travel Services, which were concluded on
19 July 2005 and 14 October 2005, respectively, amounted
to € 13.3 million.
Group operating profit was € 242.3 million, a € 16.3 million
increase over 2004. Excluding TPS, it increased by 12.4% to
€ 233.6 million, compared to € 207.8 million in 2004.
Excluding non-current asset capital gains and non-depreciable asset write-downs, Group operating profit would amount
to € 229.8 million in 2005, compared to € 212.0 million in
2004. TPS share of this performance was € 8.7 million in
2005, compared to € 0.6 million in 2004.
Finance income of continuing operations was € 2.7 million, a
decline of € 1.3 million compared to 2004. Finance costs of
TPS fell by € 3 million compared to 2004 to € 0.9 million.
However, net profit on continuing activities includes a financial asset writedown (investment) of € 2.5 million. Excluding
this loss, net profit would increase as a result of the combined effect of increased income from cash balances and of
the positive impact of financial instrument re-valuation.
The reduction in TPS financial loss results from the lower cost
of debt, as well as from a positive change in the fair value of
financial instruments.
Income tax charge in 2005 in respect of continuing operations
amounted to € 85.1 million, compared to € 80.8 million in 2004.
2005 income tax charge relating to TPS amounted to € 2.7 million.
Effective income tax rate was 36.0%, compared to 38.3% in
2004, as a result of the change in the tax rate (down 0.5 basis
point) and of deferred taxation, including in particular the noncapitalisation of Paris Première deferred tax assets in 2004.
TPS is a partnership. Consequently, its associates are liable
for its losses. Income tax included in TPS income statement
corresponds to the saving or theoretical tax payable resulting
from the inclusion of TPS loss in Group net profit for tax purposes.
Net profit on continuing activities (excluding TPS and minority interests) amounted to € 151.2 million. The Group thus
recorded an increase of nearly 16% in its performance and
posted a net profit/turnover ratio of 14.0%, compared to 12.9%
in 2004.
Including minority interests (€ 0.1 million loss in 2005) and
TPS, net profit (Group share) amounted to € 156.2 million,
compared to € 128.8 million in 2004. This is a 21.3% increase,
or € 27.4 million.
1.2.3. Analytical consolidated t
income statementt
In application of IAS 14, we present to you the contribution of
each segment to Group consolidated operating profit (EBIT),
featuring the following developments:
M6 TV Network business accounts for € 201.3 million of
this aggregate, a 3.5% decrease compared to 2004, as the
increase in gross margin on programming did not fully offset
the increase in indirect expenses.
The Digital Channel business reported an operating loss
of € 3.8 million, which is an improvement over 2004 (€ 4.9 million loss, including a € 7.8 million restructuring costs in relation to Paris Première). However, 2005 was significantly affected by the development of W9, which accounted for
Annual Report 2005
Intra-Group eliminations and non-allocated revenues
relate to share purchase and subscription option plans and
to eliminations on consolidation that cannot be allocated to
a specific segment. The total amount of this item was stable
from one year to the next.
Activities held for disposal (TPS) recorded a strong growth
in contribution to consolidated operating profit to € 8.7 million, compared to € 0.6 million in 2004, as a result of good
cost control (increase in new subscriptions, sport broadcasting rights).
Note: EBITA corresponds to profit from operations and is
defined as operating profit before non depreciable asset writedowns and non-current asset capital gains.
625.5
9.5
201.3
601.2
7.5
208.7
24.3
2.0
(7.4)
4.0 %
27.0 %
(3.5) %
64.6
(3.8)
51.3
(4.9)
13.3
1.1
25.9 %
(21.8) %
380.3
25.6
(2.0)
1 079.9
194.8
1 274.7
352.2
9.8
(2.1)
1 012.2
185.4
1 197.6
28.1
15.8
0.1
67.7
9.4
77.1
8.0 %
162.1 %
(7.1) %
6.7 %
5.1 %
6.4 %
221.1
8.7
229.8
211.4
0.6
212.0
9.7
8.1
17.8
4.6 %
N/S
8.4 %
Non-depreciable/amortisable asset writedowns
(0.8)
Non-current asset disposal gains
13.3
Operating profit (EBIT)
233.6
Net financial income/(expenses) from continuing operations
2.7
Net financial income/(expenses) from discontinued operations (TPS) (0.9)
Share of associates' net profit
Profit before tax
235.4
Income tax on continuing operations
(85.1)
Income tax on discontinued operations (TPS)
(2.7)
(3.6)
207.8
4.0
(3.9)
(0.6)
207.3
(80.8)
1.2
2.8
13.3
25.8
(1.3)
3.0
0.6
25.1
(4.3)
(3.9)
Net profit on continuing operations
Net profit on discontinued operations (TPS)
Net profit
Minority interest
151.2
5.1
156.3
(0.1)
130.4
(2.1)
128.3
0.5
20.7
7.2
27.9
(0.6)
15.9 %
N/S
21.8 %
156.2
128.8
27.3
21.3 %
€ millions
M6 TV Network
Turnover - advertising revenues
Turnover - other
EBITA
Digital Channels
Turnover
EBITA
Diversification & audiovisual rights
Turnover
EBITA
Eliminations and unallocated items
Turnover from continuing operations
Turnover from discontinued operations (TPS)
Group turnover
EBITA from continuing operations
EBITA from discontinued operations (TPS)
Group EBITA
Net profit - Group share
Annual Report 2005
2005/2004 change
(€ millions)
(%)
12.4 %
Financial accounts
2004
Legal Information
The Diversification and Audiovisual Right segment
recorded strong growth and contributed € 38.1 million to
consolidated operating profit (including the disposal of RTL
Shop for € 13.3 million).
This performance is partly due to the recovery of FC Girondins de Bordeaux, which reported an operating profit of
€ 1.5 million, compared to a € 8.6 million loss in 2004.
In addition, the growth in the Interactivity segment, with M6
Mobile and M6 Web, and in the Distance Selling segment,
with good performances by HSS and the integration of Mistergooddeal, as well as Audiovisual Rights, which benefited
from box office and video successes and from the demand
of the broadcasting rights market, enabled the Group to offset the decrease in operations carried by M6 Interactions and
its subsidiaries.
2005
12.1 %
Financial Report
a € 6.8 million loss and the € 2.3 million DTT cost overrun
incurred by Paris Première.
Management Report
81
Management Report
82
2. 2005 Group’s businesses financial resultss
2.1. M6 TV network businesss
161.3
Business segment
total turnover
613.7
2004
External
turnover
601.2
164.4
Business segment
total turnover
28.8
2.4
40.4
57.0
2.1
41.3
4.1
0.3
(1.0)
1.9
1.8
(1.5)
1.5
1.5
(0.6)
0.4
0.3
(0.9)
65.4
5.2
(1.3)
67.4
3.7
1.4
(1.9)
1.5
(2.7)
Property companies
8.0
0.1
2.5
7.5
0.2
2.2
0.4
(0.1)
0.3
Other
0.9
-
-
-
-
-
0.9
-
-
Intra-Group eliminations
(117.5)
-
-
(117.7)
-
-
0.2
-
-
M6 TV Network business
662.2
635.0
201.3
629.3
608.7
208.7
32.9
26.3
(7,4)
€ millions
M6 Publicité (Advertising)
M6 Films
Production companies
2005
External
turnover
625.5
61.1
EBITA
EBITA
2005/2004 change
External
turnover
24.3
EBITA
(3.1)
Financial Report
Legal Information
Financial accounts
M6 TV channel
Business segment
total turnover
642.4
Annual Report 2005
83
Turnover - external advertising revenues
Turnover - intra-Group advertising revenues
625.5
15.2
601.2
10.6
Advertising agency cost - M6’s share
Taxes and royalties
Broadcasting costs
(17.5)
(66.2)
(37.1)
(15.8)
(60.9)
(34.6)
(1.7)
(5.3)
(2.6)
10.5 %
8.7 %
7.4 %
Free-to-Air net revenues
519.9
500.6
19.3
3.9 %
(258.4)
(248.6)
(9.8)
3.9 %
261.5
252.0
9.5
3.8 %
50.3 %
50.3 %
Net other operating revenue/(expenses)
Ex-segment commissions net advertising
agency costs not allocated to M6
(65.0)
5.1
(53.1)
6.8
(11.9)
(1.7)
22.3 %
(25.5) %
M6 TV Network other subsidiaries EBITA
(0.3)
3.0
(3.3)
201.3
208.7
(7.4)
Programming costs
Gross profit on programming
Gross profit on programming (in %)
M6 TV Network EBITA
2005 / 2004 change
(%)
(€ millions)
24.3
4.0 %
4.5
42.3 %
(3.5) %
Glossary
Free to Air TV net revenues: These consist of advertising revenues earned by the M6 television network, offset by the costs
of services provided by M6 Publicité, mandatory charges levied as a proportion of turnover and broadcasting costs.
Programming costs: These represent the cost of purchased, produced and co-produced programme broadcasts, and include
charges relating to rights that are invalid or unlikely to be broadcast.
Gross margin on programming: This represents the difference between Free to Air TV net revenues and programming
costs.
Annual Report 2005
M6 Métropole Télévision is the Parent Company of the M6
Group and broadcasts the M6 channel. It sets programming
strategy, programme acquisition and production policy and the
network’s programme line-up. M6 collects revenues from
advertising slots and sponsorships broadcast on the network.
M6 Métropole Télévision defines the strategic direction of the
Group’s various entities and manages the cross-organisational support functions. The majority of the Group’s strategic
economic assets are held by the Parent Company.
For 2005, M6 Métropole Télévision reported a 4.0% increase
in advertising revenues of € 625.5 million. Programming costs
increased by 3.9%.
M6 TV channel contributed € 161.3 million to Group consolidated operating profit, including in particular rising broadcasting costs.
Financial accounts
2004
Advertising agency M6 Publicité (SAS)
M6 Publicité collects and commercialises advertising and sponsorship aired on TV on behalf of the Métropole Télévision
Group. It also manages the advertising of the 20 digital channels.
In this regard, M6 Publicité realises all commercial and marketing studies, enabling channels to improve the effectiveness
of their programming.
The advertising agency, which realises most of its sales with
the M6 channel and other Group companies, contributed
€ 40.4 million to Group operating profit.
Legal Information
2005
Financial Report
€ millions
Management Report
M6 TV Channel, Métropole Télévision (SA)
2.1.1. Free to Air TVs
Management Report
84
2.1.2. Other Free to Air TV s
activitiess
Film production
M6 Films contribution to consolidated sales noticeably improved in 2005 to € 1.8 million, compared to € 1.5 million in 2004,
reflecting the success of the films in terms of box office sales.
However, operating profit remained negative, due to the impact
of co-production share writedown.
M6 Films (SA)i
Financial accounts
TV Production
M6 Films is a co-producer of French and European films, for
which it also manages the pre-purchasing of rights, enabling
their broadcast on the M6 TV network. Its activities reflect M6
TV Network’s obligation of investing 3.2% of its net advertising revenues in the production of French and European films.
For 2005, investments corresponding to this obligation amounted to € 16.7 million, up 4% in relation to 2004, enabling M6
Films to undertake the production of 9 new films.
Financial Report
Legal Information
M6 Films pursued its diversified financing policy, with on the
one hand ambitious
French films, such as Ne le dis à personne, a thriller with François Cluzet and Nathalie Baye, OSS117, a comedy with Jean
Dujardin, Un ticket pour l’espace with Kad and Olivier, and on
the other hand, lower budget films with promising screen-plays
and directed by emerging film-makers (Fair Play by Lionel
Bailliu, La tête de Maman by Carine Tardieu).
In 2005, in an environment marked by a decrease in box office
attendance figures, the 9 films co-produced by M6 in the previous years registered very good performances, with cumulative box office ticket sales of 11.2 million, compared to
11.7 million last year, or a 5% decrease in market that is down
by 10% (source: CNC). 4 films (Brice de Nice, Iznogoud,
Espace Détente and Les Chevaliers du Ciel) exceeded 1 million in box office ticket sales.
Métropole Production (SA)i
Métropole Production produces audiovisual works, programmes and music magazines for the M6 TV network, primarily
consisting of network flagship programmes such as Zone
Interdite, Turbo and Fan de (delegated production), as well as
the children’s programme M6 Kid and the movie magazine
Grand Ecran. The company realises most of its activity with
other companies of the M6 Group, as well as operating the
Group’s technical resources.
C. Productions (SA)i
C.Productions is a production company that produces news
magazines for the M6 Group, such as Capital, Zone Interdite
(executive production), Secrets d’Actualité, Enquête Exclusive,
Docs de Choc, Plus Vite que la Musique or 100% foot.
Aside from these recurring productions, C. Productions also
produced special topical programmes (Tsunami, Europe in
question, Katerina, air safety, French suburbs…). Finally, a significant share of the company’s activities were dedicated to the
production of major documentary films: Ma vie aux urgences
d’Ajaccio, a new documentary series, Hitler, la folie d’un homme,
an early evening historical documentary, Le jour où la France
s’est arrêtée science-drama documentary.
In 2005, C. Productions produced a total 190 hours of programmes or 168 formats, including 154 original formats.
In terms of audience levels, Capital and Zone Interdite (executive production), two news magazines broadcast on alternate Sunday nights at 8.50 pm recorded impressive audience
levels, respectively averaging 19.6% and 20.2% of the under
50 year old housewife segment and attracting on average 4.1
million and 3.8 million viewers. Secrets d’actualité, which is
broadcast later on three Sunday nights a month posted an
audience level of 18.9% of under 50 year old housewives and
an average of 1.8 million viewers.
Studio 89 Productions (SAS)i
Studio 89 was created in January 2003 and produces entertainment and games shows, as well as musical documentaries
and infotainment (information and entertainment) magazines
for the M6 TV network and the digital channels of the Group.
In 2005, the company produced 26 shows totalling 997 hours
of programming, compared to 854 hours in 2004, including
7 shows broadcast daily on M6 (C’est pas trop tôt, Morning
Café, Génération Hit, Jour J, Classé Confidentiel, Tubissimo,
Météo), 3 weekly programmes (Classé Confidentiel, 20h10,
Hit Machine, Fan de) and one prime time programme (Coupe
du Monde du Rire). In addition, Studio 89 produced numerous programmes for digital channels, in a weekly format (in
particular: Hit TF6, Les Dossiers de Téva, Fun People and
Made in Mangas for W9), monthly format (100% séries for
Série Club) on a stand-alone basis (The Swan 1 and 2 and
L’armée des célébrités for TF6). Studio 89 pioneered new
concepts and adaptations of international programmes. It pursued its policy of young talent detection and has introduced
a new generation of presenters for its programmes (Zuméo,
Sandra Lou, Elodie Gossuin, Moon, Vanessa Demouy, Jenny
del Pino).
Annual Report 2005
Labo Productions is an entertainment show production company. It was consolidated for the first time in 2005.
The highlights of the 2005 first year-half was the success of
season three of Bachelor, le gentleman célibataire, whose final
show attracted over 3.8 million viewers and the production of
Top Model 2005, M6’s summer reality TV show which attracted up to 3 million viewers and represented 27.6% of the under
50 year old housewife segment. 2005 was also a good year
for variety and entertainment shows such as Duel de Star, an
original format created by W9 Productions and broadcast live
on M6, Grands Classements Disco, Coluche, de Funes, and
the 15th anniversary of Fréquenstar.
W9 Productions also stepped up its activities by grasping the
opportunity to develop and produce programmes for foreign
broadcasters, in the United States for instance, where it produced the 8 th season of the Bachelor for the ABC channel,
in partnership with Warner Bros, and in Canada, where it took
part in the creation and development of le Match des Etoiles,
Quebec TV flagship programme, broadcast on Radio Canada.
Since June 2005, W9 Productions has been developing and
producing Pekin Express, whose first episodes were broadcast early January 2006 and were very successful in terms
of audience levels.
Annual Report 2005
Group production companies realise most of their activity with
the M6 channel and the Group’s digital channels. In 2005,
their contribution to consolidated turnover increased to € 5.2
million, compared to € 3.7 million in 2004. However, their
contribution to consolidated operating profit for the year remains
negative by € 1.3 million.
Property
Immobilière M6 (SA) and SCI du 107, avenueii
Charles-de-Gaulleii
Immobilière M6 owns M6 Group’s 10,000 m2 head office facilities located at Neuilly sur Seine, which it leases to various
Group companies. The SCI of 107, avenue Charles De Gaulle,
owns two buildings covering 2,650 m2 located in Neuilly sur
Seine, which were acquired in January 1999 and which are
leased to various Group companies. All space leasing and subleasing agreements provide for transparent billings, under normal conditions, to each tenant, of rent and related charges,
based on their allocated area of space.
Financial accounts
Established in February 2003, W9 Productions reflects the
Group’s commitment to develop internally its capabilities in
the area of entertainment, variety and reality TV shows production.
2005 was an active year for W9 Productions, producing four
reality-TV shows and five entertainment shows, a total of 34
prime-time shows.
Legal Information
Labo Productions (SARL)i
Financial Report
W9 Productions (SAS)i
Management Report
85
Financial Report
Legal Information
Financial accounts
Management Report
86
2.2. Digital TV businesss
Business segment
total turnover
26.0
1.9
15.1
5.3
3.9
9.0
4.5
2005
External
turnover
25.7
1.9
15.0
5.0
3.6
8.8
4.5
3.4
0.2
-
1.6
-
-
1.8
0.2
-
Intra-Group eliminations
(3.2)
-
-
(2.1)
-
-
(1.1)
-
-
Digital channels
66.0
64.6
(3.8)
52.0
51.3
(4.9)
14.0
13.3
1.1
€ millions
Paris Première
W9
Teva
M6 Music
Fun TV
TF6
Série Club
Other
Paris Première (SA)t
Paris Première was created in December 1986 and was fully
acquired by M6 in May 2004. It is available on all broadcasting networks: DTT, satellite, cable, DSL and mobile telephony.
Paris Première is received by over 7 million households or
nearly 17 million 4+ year old individuals. Thus, the channel
ranks in the top 5 most received channels in France (Source:
operators/channel, Médiamétrie/MédiaCabSat).
Since 21 November 2005, Paris Première has been broadcast unscrambled everyday for two hours (7pm-9pm) by radio
relay channel on terrestrial DTT.
In 2005, Paris Première took its place among the Group’s
digital channels, while preserving its identity and originality.
EBITA
(0.0)
(6.8)
0.1
1.2
0.9
0.2
0.7
Business segment
total turnover
17.0
12.1
5.5
4.1
8.8
4.8
2004
External
turnover
16.8
12.0
5.3
3.8
8.5
5.0
In terms of programmes, the emphasis was put on events,
theatre, shows and series.
The channel was launched in February 2006 exclusively on
TPS DTT network pay channel range.
Contribution to consolidated turnover increased by 8% (on a
similar consolidation scope basis). Growth was supported both
by the increase in advertising revenue and in the average number of subscribers. Operating profit, which was impacted in
2004 by the recognition of € 7.8 million in restructuring costs,
broke even in 2005, in spite of the inclusion of DTT-related
costs.
EBITA
(8.1)
(0.4)
(0.8)
2.2
0.5
0.9
0.7
Business segment
total turnover
9.0
1.9
2.9
(0.3)
(0.1)
0.2
(0.3)
2005/2004 change
External
turnover
8.9
1.9
3.0
(0.3)
(0.2)
0.3
(0.5)
EBITA
8.1
(6.5)
0.9
(1.1)
0.4
(0.6)
(0.1)
W9 - Edi TV (SNC)t
An additional clause to M6 Music agreement, signed with the
CSA on 29 March 2005, allowed in particular the channel to
be present at the launch of DTT on 31 March 2005 under
the name of W9. All digital terrestrial households and all households subscribing to a satellite TV, cable TV or ADSL offering, receive W9. The channel is also available to subscribers
to Orange and Bouygues Telecom 3G mobile phone technology. It is the fourth most widely available digitally transmitted
channel and is received by a total of 7 million subscriber households.
It is a new generation, young and relaxed channel and its ambition is to fulfil the expectations of its audience of young adults
Annual Report 2005
Téva – Sedi TV (SNC)t
Téva, the generalist channel for women was created in 1996
and is 51% owned by M6 and 49% owned by CTF (Marie
Claire Group and Hachette Filipacchi Media). Broadcast on
TPS, CanalSatellite and the major cable operators, as well as
by ADSL (TPSL, CanalSatdsl, Free, 9 télécom, Alice) and
mobile phone (Orange), Téva had more than 4.96 million household subscribers at 31 December 2005.
The channel broadcast cult and original series, successful and
unifying films, reality TV formats in original version and exclusive in France. Identity shows around housing and decoration
have been confirming their success over a number of seasons. In 2005, the channel again stepped up its programming
Annual Report 2005
M6 Music Hits / Rock / Black -t
M6 Communication (SAS)t
The music offering of the M6 Music Rock and M6 Music Black
channels launched in January 2005 was extended with the
introduction of M6 Music Hits on 31 Mars 2005, a channel
dedicated to current chart toppers.
September 2005 saw the progressive arrival of programmes
on all these channels, through strong personality musical magazines that carry image and increase audience awareness of
the channels.
M6 Music Hits, is an all music type 100% music channel
dedicated to current chart toppers and broadcast on TPS,
major cable networks, ADSL (TPSL, Free, 9 télécom) and
mobile phone (M6 Mobile, Orange, SFR, Bouygues). It has
1.8 million subscribers.
M6 Music Black, is a 100% music channel with an emphasis on Black music (Hip-hop, RnB, Soul…). It is broadcast on
TPS, Numéricable, ADSL (TPSL, Free, 9 télécom) and mobile
phone (Orange, SFR). It has 1.3 million subscribers.
M6 Music Rock, is a 100% music channel dedicated to
Rock and Pop music. It is broadcast on TPS, Numéricable,
ADSL (TPSL, Free, 9 télécom) and mobile phone (Orange,
SFR). It has 1.3 million subscribers.
Fun TV (SNC)t
Fun TV, the live entertainment channel set up in 1997, for 15
to 24 year olds, had 1.8 million cable TV and TPS subscribers
at 31 December 2005. The channel is broadcast by TPS,
major cable networks, ADSL (Tpsl, Free, 9 télécom) and mobile
telephony (Orange).
Despite a slight decrease in turnover, Fun TV again improved
its contribution to operating profit to € 0.9 million, due in particular to good cost control.
TF6 (SCS)t
This jointly owned subsidiary with TF1 had 2.79 million subscribers at 31 December 2005, up 2.5% (67,000 households)
since the previous year-end. The channel is exclusively available by satellite on TPS and is included in offers of the main
cable operators.
The programme offering was again extended in 2005, in order
to provide a mini-generalist entertainment offering to a young
adult audience, including shows, reality TV formats, music,
series and cinema.
In terms of distribution, the channel has been included since
June 2005 in the new YPSO basic offering (generated by
the merger of France Télécom Câble and NC Numéricâble).
Financial accounts
Téva recorded strong turnover growth in 2005, to € 15.0 million (up 25%), as a result of dynamic advertising revenue and
the increase in the number of subscribers. The company was
thus able to generate its first positive contribution to operating profit of € 0.1 million.
Contribution to consolidated turnover slightly decreased as
M6 Music advertising revenues were progressively transferred to the channels launched during the first quarter of 2005.
The decrease in operations had an adverse impact on the
contribution to operating profit, which nonetheless amounted
to € 1.2 million.
Legal Information
W9 contribution to consolidated turnover was € 1.9 million,
corresponding to the channel’s advertising revenues since the
launch on 31 March 2005. Including channel launch costs,
programming costs and frequency adjusting costs, operating
loss amounted to € 6.8 million.
with two new shows: Elles ont les moyens de vous faire parler and Gwendoline, assistante de Stars.
Financial Report
by providing a varied offering. It puts the emphasis on a balanced mix of audience favourite formats, with strong music
content but also top box-office films, original series, comedy
series, cult series, magazines and entertainment shows, as
well as events such as the Grammy Awards ceremony or the
best of the World Rally Championship.
W9 is the most watched channel by young adults among new
DTT channels. 71.5% of 15-34 year old young adults receiving W9 watch it at least once a week. It is also the channel
that matches the expectations of this audience the most closely, as 62% of W9 regular viewers are aged between 15 and
34 (source: IFOP survey conducted from 8 June to 20 June
2005 on households equipped with a DTT set-top box).
Management Report
87
Management Report
88
It was launched in February 2006 on pay DTT, exclusive to
the TPS offering.
TF6 turnover recorded an increase of 3.5%, although its contribution to operating profit decreased by € 0.2 million, as a result
of the establishment of a provision for expenditure relating to
the launch of TF6 on the pay DTT.
Financial Report
Legal Information
Financial accounts
Série Club – Extension TV (SA)t
This subsidiary, jointly-owned with TF1, had 2.21 million household subscribers at 31 December 2005 through TPS and
major cable TV operators.
The channel recorded a decrease of 127,000 subscriber households since the end of 2004, following the withdrawal of
the channel from the analogue offering of a cable operator.
Since June 2005, Série Club has been included in the new
YPSO basic digital offering (generated by the merger of France
Télécom Câble and NC Numéricâble) should progressively
offset the loss of initialisation by the transfer from analogue
to digital mode.
Série Club, which provides viewers with a varied offer of TV
series, many of which were never shown before, continued
with its strategy of creating event-driven nightly specials and
offers new magazine programmes.
In 2005, Série Club turnover was adversely affected as the
channel was withdrawn from the analogue offering of a cable
operator, resulting in a decrease in the number of subscriber
households and in the level of advertising revenues. However, Série Club contribution to operating profit remained stable at € 0.7 million.
Annual Report 2005
(3.2)
(0.2)
3.6
(1.3)
0.0
(1.0)
Business segment
total turnover
52.3
7.9
0.5
60.6
2004
External
turnover
46.8
6.6
0.4
53.7
(6.1)
0.1
(2.9)
(8.9)
Business segment
total turnover
1.7
1.8
1.6
0.1
5.2
M6 Interactions
M6 Editions - Citato
M6 Evenements - Livestage
Interactions
103.0
10.2
8.3
121.5
96.6
10.0
7.4
114.0
11.8
(0.8)
(2.8)
8.1
108.7
10.6
16.8
136.2
103.6
10.6
15.7
129.8
15.2
(0.3)
0.1
15.1
(5.7)
(0.5)
(8.5)
(14.7)
(6.9)
(0.6)
(8.3)
(15.8)
(3.5)
(0.6)
(2.9)
(7.0)
HSS Group
Mistergooddeal
Distance selling
120.0
13.2
133.2
118.1
13.2
131.3
6.2
0.4
6.6
113.6
113.6
111.4
111.4
4.5
4.5
6.4
13.2
19.6
6.7
13.2
19.9
1.7
0.4
2.1
M6 Web (excluding M6 Mobile)
M6 Mobile
Interactivity
39.7
10.1
49.8
32.5
10.1
42.5
8.6
1.8
10.4
31.4
31.4
26.5
26.5
7.8
7.8
8.4
10.1
18.4
6.0
10.1
16.0
0.8
1.8
2.6
FCGB
34.5
34.2
1.5
30.8
30.8
(8.6)
3.7
3.4
10.2
Other
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Intra-Group eliminations
(11.1)
-
-
(7.8)
-
-
(3.3)
-
-
Diversification
393.7
380.3
25.6
364.7
352.2
9.8
29.0
28.1
15.8
SND
SNC
TCM
Mandarin
M6 Studio
Audiovisual rights
Annual Report 2005
EBITA
EBITA
2005/2004 change
External
turnover
1.9
1.1
1.5
0.1
4.6
EBITA
2.9
(0.2)
3.5
1.6
0.0
7.9
Financial accounts
2005
External
turnover
48.7
1.1
8.0
0.5
58.3
Legal Information
Business segment
total turnover
54.0
1.8
9.5
0.6
65.9
€ millions
Financial Report
2.3. Diversification and audiovisual right activitiess
Management Report
89
Legal Information
Financial accounts
Management Report
90
2.3.1. M6 Interactionss
Discst
Against the background of a disc market that stabilised its volumes sold (up 0.6%) but decreased in value (down 8.6%, source:
SNEP), as a result of the continued fall in album and single selling prices (down 15% and 23% over the past two years, respectively), M6 Interactions recorded 24% volume growth in
2005 (10.3 million discs sold in 2005, including music DVDs,
compared to 8.3 million in 2004). This good performance is driven by major commercial successes, including:
• 10 top of the charts singles, including one triple diamond
disc for Ilona Un monde parfait (over 1.5 million copies sold).
Just as O-Zone in 2004, Ilona (in co production with Scorpio Music) recorded the best single sales in France in 2005.
As for Amel Bent (discovered by season 2 of Nouvelle Star),
her song Ma Philosophie ranked 3rd in the same category.
• 4 certifications albums, including 1 platinum disc for Lorie’s
last album.
In spite of these good results, turnover for the Disc business
decreased, as a result of generalised downward pressure on
the price of singles.
Financial Report
Composite product publicationst
A significant share of composite product publications comprises DVDs sold individually or as full collections. In 2005 and
for the first time, the Video Edition market remained stable in
volumes sold (up 0.3%, compared with 24% growth in 2004),
combined with a decrease of 12% in value for publishers
(source: SEV), as a result of lower average selling price of
marketed products (increase of catalogue costs and success
of DVD sets).
M6 Group total Composite Product volume sales were
€ 8.94 million items. The sales are analysed as follows:
Encyclopaedia collections
Sales volumes significantly increased with 7.8 million units sold
in newsstands and by subscription. The increase was primarily
due to:
• The launch of 6 new collections in 2005 (3 collections,
La Grande Parade des Chevaux, Renault and Le Mans, and
3 DVD collections, Jean Gabin, Nestor Burma and Yu Gi
Oh!).
• The continued success of the collections launched in the
past years. 6 of them were re-launched in 2005, in particular Mary Higgins Clark (DVD).
Individual DVD and video game sales
The video business was extended with the sale of cult DVD
sets (Star Wars, Indiana Jones, The Godfather) in newsstands,
while pursuing the exclusive distribution in newsstands of successful films or series such as Kaamelott. In addition, over 30
video games were marketed in 2005 by M6 Interactions in
newsstands. Sales by these two businesses decreased in
2005.
Turnover of the composite product publication business slightly
increased in 2005, as the rise recorded on collections offset
the drop in individual DVD sales.
Publishingt
M6 Éditions mission is to publish for the youth market and,
since 2005, adult-oriented magazines.
As regards youth press, M6 Editions publishes three major
magazines, Fan 2 (twice-monthly), Hit Machine Girl (twicemonthly, became monthly in 2005) and Manga Hits (launched
in November 2004).
2005 was an eventful year for M6 Editions:
• acquisition of Citato, a free monthly magazine targeting
15-20 year olds. It is produced in partnership with major
newspaper and magazines and French educational institutions. 230,000 copies of Citato are distributed in high schools,
universities, higher schools of education. etc.
• successful launch in November 2005 of the Auto Turbo
monthly in joint publication with Motor Presse. The magazine first two issues sold an average 90,000 copies and
marked the first steps of the Group in adult press.
M6 Editions also develops a joint publication business for
books derived from successful programmes.
2005 developments (Auto-Turbo and Citato) enabled M6 Editions turnover to remain at a virtually unchanged level.
M6 Événements (SA) – Live Stage (SAS)t
M6 Événements specialises in the staging of shows and communications events.
In 2005, the Group’s Live Stage, specialised in musical shows,
reduced its musical comedy activities after the successful tour
of the Gone with the Wind show in 2004.
Reduced contribution of M6 Événements and Live Stage to
consolidated turnover reflects the Group’s lower involvement
in musicals.
Annual Report 2005
Home Shopping Service (HSS), the Group’s wholly owned
home shopping subsidiary since 1998, dominates today the
television home shopping segment with 55% of the French
and Benelux market, 700 hours of programme broadcast every
week, 2 million active customers and 2.5 million products sold
in 2005.
Turnover increased by 6% to € 118.1 million. 2005 growth was
primarily due to:
• the strong increase in revenues generated by M6 Boutique la Chaîne, launched in 2004 with a new format that
broadcast 8 hours of live programmes a day and has 300
new products on offer a week,
• the continued growth in infomercials operations.
Operating profitability, which was adversely affected in 2004
by M6 Boutique la Chaîne launch expenditures progressed
as a result of efforts made in terms of logistic and production
costs.
Annual Report 2005
2.3.3. M6 Web (SAS) andi
M6 mobile by Orangei
M6 Webt
M6 Web is a subsidiary in charge of the Group’s new technology developments and has three operational segments: the
internet, interactivity with programmes and mobile telephony.
M6 Web edits some twenty web sites, for both the Group
(M6.fr, Turbo.fr, etc.) and third parties. M6.fr is France’s 2nd most
popular media web site, with, on average, 1.5 million individual
visitors accessing its pages monthly.
The interactivity segment pursued its development with the
renewal of interactive formats and improved proximity to viewers.
The mobile segment develops mobile content (personalisation, video, text message games, chat).
In 2005, M6 Web again achieved growth in both turnover and
net profit.
Turnover increased by 22.7% as a result of revenue growth
in all activities. M6 Web operating profit grew by 10.3% to
€ 8.6 million.
With nearly 230,000 subscribers at the end of 2005, the M6
Mobile by Orange agreement launched in June 2005 is a
commercial success.
The segment brought additional contribution of € 10.1 million
to turnover and generated positive operating profit of € 1.8 million for its first year.
2.3.4. Le Football Club desi
Girondins de Bordeaux (SASP)i
The SASP FC Girondins de Bordeaux is 99.76% owned by
M6 Foot SAS, which itself is a fully owned subsidiary of the
Group’s parent company, Métropole Télévision SA.
Following a difficult 2004/2005 from a sporting point of view
as the team ranked 15th, which nonetheless enabled the team
to stay in the French Ligue 1 championship for the 14th season, the 2005/2006 season started under the care of a new
world-famous manager who put together a group of professional players both improved in terms of quantity and quality.
FCGB ranked third at mid-season with the league’s best
defence. The 100% Girondins programme, first broadcast by
M6 then by W9, ensures national exposure to the team and
records very good audience levels.
The year 2005 was also marked by the start of Ecole Technique Privée FC Girondins de Bordeaux. The training centre
was strengthened by a number of selections in each age group.
The contribution of FCGB to Group turnover increased by
11% to € 34.2 million, due notably to higher Ligue 1 TV rights
Financial accounts
Home Shopping Service (SA)t
and Mistergooddeal.com (SA)t
Mistergooddeal.com is a fast growing company and contributed € 13.2 million to Group consolidated turnover in 2005
(consolidated from 15 November 2005), and € 0.4 million to
net profit.
M6 mobile by Oranget
Legal Information
2.3.2. Distance sellingi
operationsi
During the year, Home Shopping Service sold its minority shareholding in RTL Shop and made the acquisition in November of 95% of Mistergooddeal.com, a leading French e-commerce website specialised in major brand inventory liquidation.
Financial Report
Total contribution of the M6 Interactions division to operating
profit was reduced by € 7 million, as a result in particular of:
• the launch of a large number of collections, which had an
adverse impact with regard to marketing expenditure carried out and to the long life cycle of these products,
• costs incurred by a musical show that was later abandoned.
Management Report
91
Management Report
92
resulting from the application of the new French Football Championship TV rights contract. Operating profit is now positive at
€ 1.5 million, thanks to revenue growth combined with good
cost control.
Financial accounts
Legal Information
Mandarin (SAS)t
Acquired in November 2002, Mandarin has developed its catalogue management and feature films production activity.
Société Nouvelle de Cinématographie (SAS)t
2.3.5. Audiovisual rightsi
Société Nouvelle de Distribution (SA)t
SND’s main activity is the acquisition, management and distribution of exploitation rights of audiovisual works.
SNC was acquired in April 2005. Its business is the audiovisual and film rights operation and management. The company
has a catalogue of nearly 450 European films, for instance
the 6 films of the Gendarmes series, Beauty and the Beast
by Jean Cocteau, The Atlantic Wall, as well as distribution
licences.
At 1 July 2005, all assets of M6 Droits Audiovisuels (DA), another Group subsidiary whose activity comprises the distribution of audiovisual rights in France and abroad were transferred to SND. M6 DA catalogue includes films, TV films, series
and international distribution rights.
In 2005, the company was consolidated for a period of 8
months and contributed € 1.1 million to Group turnover and
recorded a € 0.2 million operating loss.
SND cinema business recorded very good performance,
in particular with the film Mr & Mrs Smith, which realised box
office sales of 3 million. However, other films such as Sahara
did not attract the expected audience levels. The 13 films distributed in 2005 totalled 6.5 million box office ticket sales.
TCM D.A was created in September 1996 by TF1, M6 and
CLT. Its business is the acquisition, distribution, sale, import
and export, promotion, as well as to make available and negotiate license rights of any cinema or visual works in all French
speaking territories. The company is jointly owned by M6 (50%)
and TF1 (50%).
TCM DA sales are realised on the major national analogue TV
channels and cable and satellite TV channels in France, as
well as export sales to Belgium and Switzerland.
The video business totalled 2.86 millions DVD and VHS
copies sold, for all distribution channels. 2005 witnessed in
particular the success of the Vaillant, Kaamelott and Arsène
Lupin videos.
Financial Report
Even though contribution to operating profit remained negative, it was markedly improved with a loss of € 3.2 million, compared to a € 6.1 million loss in 2004.
During 2005, SND continued to step up its rights acquisition
policy and bought notably the full rights of 15 new films for
distribution, including The Guardian and Michael Clayton.
As a result of cinema and video segment development, contribution to turnover increased by 4.1% to € 48.7 million.
TCM Droits Audiovisuels (SNC)t
No significant commercial activity was recorded in 2005. The
contribution to consolidated turnover was € 0.5 million, along
with profitability eliminated due to the amortisation of the catalogue.
M6 Studio (SAS)t
Created in 2003, M6 Studio is dedicated to the development
and production of French animated feature films. M6 Studio
is currently producing, as associate producer, its first animated feature film, Astérix and les Vikings, in co-production with
2d3D Animations and Mandarin SAS and in association with
A Film AS.
This very ambitious € 22 million project has been under development within the M6 Group since the end of 2002, and its
production, ensured by French and European studios, began
in 2003. It was completed at the end of 2005, with a box office
release date in France set at 12 April 2006.
In 2005, sales development continued and was especially helped by cable and satellite channels (including TPS), which
accounted for half the company turnover. TCM contribution to
consolidated turnover strongly increased by 23.5% to € 6.5
million. The same is true of the contribution to operating profit which reached € 3.6 million, compared to € 0.1 million in
2004.
Annual Report 2005
2004
2005/2004 changes
€ millions
%
9.4
5.1 %
194.8
185.4
8.7
0.6
8.1
N/S
(0.9)
7.8
(3.9)
(3.3)
3.0
11.1
N/S
N/S
5.1
(2.1)
7.2
N/S
Net financial income/(expenses) (including
financial instruments fair market value changes)
Profit/(loss) before tax
Net profit/(loss)
on discontinued operations
TPS (SNC)t
TPS, of which 34% is held by M6 Group, is a subscription TV,
satellite and ADSL platform distribution, as well as an editor
of premium channels.
In spite of a stable number of active subscribers (1.75 million),
TPS turnover continued to grow due to the increase in subscribers at the end of 2004, whose full effect was felt in 2005.
In addition, TPS improved its operational profitability, under the
combined impact of increased ARPU and lower marketing
costs related to attracting new subscribers.
In 2005, TPS also strengthened its ADSL coverage by extending the MaLigneTV by France Télécom offering and through
the launch of the TPS offering by Neuf Telecom and Alice.
Since 15 February 2006, TPS markets a pay DTT offering.
Annual Report 2005
In application of IFRS 5, TPS is now recognised as an activity
held for disposal. In 2005, TPS generated net profit for the
first financial year, at € 5.1 million (M6 Group share).
3.1. Financial structurei
At 31 December 2005, M6 had group equity of € 504.1 million, up € 62.8 million compared to 31 December 2004. The
change includes net profit for the financial year of € 156.2 million after dividend distribution in respect of 2004 (€ 110 million) and the impact of the application of IAS 39, financial instruments: recognition and measurement, IFRS 2, share-based
payments and changes in treasury shares held within the framework of stock option plans for € 16.6 million. Equity minority interests amounted to € 0.2 million, primarily corresponding to the 49% equity stake in Sedi TV held by non-Group
shareholders.
Total assets increased by 12.6% to €1,390.3 million. This change
reflects both the inclusion of new companies in the Group’s
consolidation scope, in particular Mistergooddeal and SNC and
the development of Group activities.
Activities held for disposal represented € 201.8 million of Group
assets and € 219.3 million in Group equity and liabilities. These
amounts correspond to 34% of TPS assets and liabilities, as
well as Group balance sheet items directly related to the TPS
shareholding, such as historical goodwill recognised in respect
of TPS (€ 91.0 million).
Other goodwill primarily comprised Paris Première and Mistergooddeal and represented € 61.3 million or only 4.4% of total
assets.
Financial accounts
EBITA
2005
Legal Information
€ millions¤
Turnover
3. Financial
structure and
cash flow
Financial Report
2.4. Discontinued activities: i
Télévision Par Satellite (TPS)i
Management Report
93
Financial Report
Legal Information
Financial accounts
Management Report
94
Cash and cash equivalents net of financial debt is measured
by adding cash, cash equivalents, current and non-current
financial assets (loans and deposits) and deducting current
and non-current financial debts and leases. At 31 December
2005, this item amounted to € 242.8 million in respect of
continuing activities. Including TPS, it amounted to € 188.7 million, compared to € 203.2 million at 31 December 2004. The
€ 14.5 decrease was primarily due to cash flow from operations of € 210.5 million, minus cash flows applied to investments of € 120.9 million and the distribution of dividends of
€ 110.0 million.
3.2. Cash flowsi
Cash flow from operations, amounted to € 210.3 million in
2005, a 9.9% increase over the € 191.9 million of 2004.
Excluding TPS, this flow would increase by 32.1 % to € 194.3
million.
Self-financing operating capacity before tax amounted
to € 324.8 million, compared with € 286.0 million in 2004.
This 13.6% increase is primarily due to operating profit growth,
as the majority of the increase in net depreciation and provision charges (€ 24.2 million) was offset by the impact of capital gains on the disposal of RTL Shop (€ 13.0 million) and on
the sale of FC Girondins de Bordeaux football players (€ 8.0
million).
The change in working capital requirements (WCR) amounted to € (38.9) million, compared to positive contribution of
€ 17.9 million in 2004.
Excluding TPS, it amounted to € (35.6) million, compared to
a negative € 18.6 million in 2004.
This development resulted from:
• Inventory movements: an outflow of € 23.2 million compared to an outflow of € 10.1 million in 2004, related to he
increase in the purchase of rights within the context of stepped-up TV network programming;
• Change in operating trade receivables: an outflow of € 53.6
million compared to a € 18.6 million increase in 2004, resulting from advances paid on non open and sporting events
(an outflow of € 38 million) broadcasting rights and from the
development of Group activities;
• Change in operating liabilities: an inflow of € 41.2 million
compared to an outflow of € 26.8 million in 2004, as suppliers increased in line with significant programme purchasing.
TPS contribution to the change in WCR was affected by significant cash payments at the beginning of the financial year,
resulting from the purchase of programmes agreed during the
2004 second half-year.
Cash flows applied to investments amounted to € 120.9 million in 2005, compared to € 100.8 million in 2004.
This increase resulted from the following developments:
• acquisitions of intangible assets increased by € 11.0 million, primarily comprising of SND investments in audiovisual rights;
• SNC and Mistergooddeal acquisitions resulted in a € 40.9
million outflow. In 2004, the acquisitions of Paris Première
and Boutique du Monde (by HSS) generated net cash outflows of € 18.5 million and € 1.1 million, respectively.
• The disposal of RTL Shop resulted in a € 5.0 million net
cash inflow at 31 December 2005. The € 5.0 million balance
is due in March 2006.
Cash flows applied to financing activities reflected cash outflows of € 56.0 million in 2005, compared to € 113.3 million
in 2004.
Excluding TPS, these outflows amounted to € 52.6 million in
2005, compared to € 77.6 million in 2004.
4. Cash
management
policy
The Group has established the following prudent rules to
control its cash deposit policy:
• not to hold more than 5% of the assets of a fund (control
ratio)
• compulsory diversification: not to invest more than 20%
of Group bank balances in a single instrument,
• limit credit risk: minimum compulsory investment for each
investment grade stock fund
The Group carries out cash management with the objective
of being able to rapidly mobilise short-term deposits and of
limiting capital risk.
Investment yields are regularly measured in order to optimise
cash performance and to carry out potential arbitration.
Annual Report 2005
• within the framework of the purchase of audiovisual rights
for marketing purposes (cinema, video distribution and TV
sales). In this respect, SND, which is the company managing the majority of the Group Audiovisual Right business,
invested € 32.2 million in the purchase of rights in 2005.
• within the framework of broadcast rights acquisition, which
are accounted for as inventory and represent the Group’s
investments in its programme line-up. These purchases
amounted to € 223.4 million in 2005 and corresponded to
programmes whose rights were open during the financial
year and which can thus be broadcast.
• within the framework of equity stakes and company acquisitions in order to complement the activities of the Group.
For 2005, these investments notably concerned the following activities:
- Audiovisual rights, with the purchase of SNC for € 13.0
million.
- Publishing, with the acquisition of Citato for an amount
of € 0.3 million
- Distance selling, with the acquisition of 95% of Mistergooddeal.com for an amount of € 43.1 million, corres-
Annual Report 2005
As regards technology, property, plant and equipment, the
Group is active in the implementation of new technologies,
and notably has undertaken a multi-year digitisation plan focusing on newscasts and content broadcast on the network.
The Group renews a portion of its office and IT equipment
every year and makes the necessary investments to maintain
the value of its property assets.
HD (High Definition) and VOD (Video on Demand) developments were also pursued in 2005.
6. Off-balance sheeti
commitmentsi
In application of IFRS 5, off-balance sheet commitments related to TPS, an activity held for disposal, are presented separately for 2005.
This presentation has no impact on the Group’s total offbalance sheet commitments.
M6 Group’s off-balance sheet commitments totalled
€ 1,405.0 million at 31 December 2005, compared to
€ 953.1 million at 31 December 2004, that is a € 451.9 million increase.
Major changes excluding TPS concern commitments undertaken by the M6 TV channel in respect of co-productions and
the purchase of broadcasting rights (€ 394.0 million). Total
group commitments in this respect represented € 674.4 million at 31 December 2005.
The balance of changes in commitments given is a € 40.9 million decrease, which is primarily explained by the reduction in
amounts due for contracts with TDF, as these contracts progress. Commitments given by the Group in respect of image
transmission, satellite leasing and positioning and transponders amounted to € 82.0 million at 31 December 2005, compared to € 113.5 million in 2004 (excluding TPS).
Over the 2005 financial year, commitments received by the
Group amounted to € 457.3 million, compared to € 341.0 million in 2004. This is a € 116.3 increase, including € 99.0 million related to commitments received by the Group from other
partners in partnerships.
Other commitment received (€ 46.9 million) relate to audiovisual broadcasting rights purchase commitments and to multiyear contracts with cable and satellite broadcasters.
Financial accounts
• within the framework of conventional agreements and/or
regulatory obligations, M6 Group invests in cinematographic and audiovisual works, which in 2005 amounted to
€ 112.2 million, that is 21.2% of consolidated advertising
revenues.
M6 Group does not realise any Research and Development
activity for its own account, except for the development of
show and programme concepts implemented by the channel
programming teams and certain production subsidiaries of he
Group.
Commitments given by TPS or by the Group in relation to TPS
(such as those pertaining to responsibility for TPS liabilities)
amounted to € 628.5 million (M6 share), a € 98.8 million
increase, due in particular to higher financing provided by financial institutions and the Group’s partner in TPS.
Legal Information
The Group’s investment policy is undertaken at many levels:
ponding to the full acquisition, which includes a 5% price
supplement and acquisition expenses.
Financial Report
5. Investment
policyi
Management Report
95
Legal Information
Financial accounts
Management Report
96
7. Significant i
post-balance i
sheet events
- After receiving the approval from relevant social organisations, the Vivendi Universal, TF1 and M6 Groups officially
signed the TPS and Canal+ Groups merger agreement on 6
January 2006, as announced in December 2005. The project is subject to approval by French competition authorities
and will also be referred to the Conseil Supérieur de l’Audiovisuel. An amount of € 51 million was paid by Vivendi Universal to M6 upon the signing of the agreement, corresponding
to the first stage of the agreement (acquisition of 15% of TPS
by Vivendi Universal). The advance will be repaid in the event
the competition authorities approve the transaction and M6
would then hold 5.1% of the new entity created by TPS and
Canal+ subscriber TV assets.
- On 23 January 2006, Newsports, a non-consolidated company of which M6 Group holds a 1.6% shareholding, was listed on the Alternext segment of Euronext.
Financial Report
- Since mid-February 2006, the TF6 and Paris Première
channels are available, along with TPS Star in the offering marketed by TPS, within the framework of the launch of pay DTT.
- On 21 February 2006, M6 Mobile by Orange announced
that it crossed the 300,000 subscribers mark.
- On 28 February 2006, M6 Group announced the acquisition of 50% of Femmes en Ville SAS, which publishes two
free monthly magazines, Femme en Ville and Homme en Ville.
The company is not aware of any significant event arising since
1 January 2006 that may have or may have recently had a
significant impact on the financial position and the Group and
company’s assets.
8. 2006 outlooki
M6 Group will pursue in 2006 its growth strategy on all of its
activities.
In keeping with previous years, programmes will continue to
be at the heart of M6’s development strategy, with a view to
consolidating the network’s position in a rapidly changing environment. The acquisition, for € 27 million, of the rights to 31
matches of the FIFA World Cup, which takes place from 9 June
to 9 July 2006 in Germany, is part of this strategy.
Within this competitive and technological context marked by
sharp and rapid changes, the Group’s digital channels have
positioned themselves to consolidate their growth and development.
Regarding the penetration of digital complementary TV offer,
the Group’s channels are going to benefit from an increased
number of equipped households, due to the success of the
DTT and DSL distribution means.
Paris Première and W9, the second free-to-air TV channel of
the Group should notably benefit from these promising prospects, in respect of which the Group will continue its investment efforts in 2006.
New growth opportunities implemented in 2005, such as the
Distance Selling segment with the acquisition of
Mistergooddeal.com or the M6 Mobile by Orange agreement
will contribute to dynamic diversification activities. The M6 brand,
interactivity and proximity to viewers, subscribers and customers will remain the main areas of the Group’s strategy.
Finally, we are expecting a decision from competition authori-
ties by the end of 2006, with regard to the subscriber TV agreement signed at the beginning of January 2006 with Vivendi
Universal and TF1.
For 2006, we forecast an increase of 5 to 6% in programming
costs (excluding the impact of the Football World Cup). In addition, the Group forecasts stable advertising revenues for the
1st quarter of 2006, compared to the 1st quarter 2005, taking
into account the advertising environment of the beginning of
the year.
9. Tax groupingii
Métropole Télévision SA has declared itself as the parent company of a tax grouping, pursuant to the provisions of Articles
223-A of the French Income Tax Code. Métropole Télévision
is solely liable for amounts due by subsidiaries in the determination of the Group’s overall tax liability, pursuant to the provisions of Article 223A of the Income Tax Code.
The SNC and Mistergooddeal companies, acquired in 2005,
have opted to be integrated in the M6 Group tax grouping as
from 1 January 2006.
However, Citato, acquired in 2005, cannot be integrated as
the Group does not hold at least 95% of the company.
M6 Droits Audiovisuels has been excluded from M6 Group
tax grouping following its liquidation and merger into SND on
1 July 2005.
Annual Report 2005
11. Compliance
with general
obligations and
agreement terms
M6 Group met all of its obligations during 2005 regarding its
contractual undertakings and regulatory obligations, according to its own assessments and subject to CSA validation.
Expenditure commitments concerning audiovisual productions contracted during 2005 amounted to € 95.5 million,
comprising € 86.7 million in original French audiovisual programming and € 8.8 million in other audiovisual programming.
In addition, € 16.7 million in investments was committed to
the production of 9 French and European films.
In total, M6 committed itself to € 112.2 million in audiovisual
programming and film production, representing 21.5% of its
2004 financial year net advertising revenues, for an obligation quota of 21.2% (18% for audiovisual programming and
3.2% for films).
The CSA will review M6’s compliance performance for 2005
at the beginning of the 2nd half of 2006.
12.1. Share listings
The share price of Métropole Télévision SA, M6 Group’s parent
company, henceforth known as the ‘Company’, has enjoyed a
very significant increase in value since its launch on the Paris
Stock Exchange Second Market on 28 September 1994 at
€ 3.96 (FRF 26), taking into account the 10 for 1 share split
on 15 June 2000.
The share price opened the 2005 year on 3 January at € 20.50
and closed the year on 31 December at € 23.40, achieving
its highest price of € 25.07 on 12 December and its lowest
price of € 19.12 on 3 May (dividend payment date).
The Company’s share price increased by 12% in 2005 (based
on the 2004 closing price), that is a performance in line with
the DJ EURO STOXX Media reference index. The year was
marked, like 2004, by very good stock market performances
by Spanish media stocks and mixed performances by other
European media participants.
The Company had a market capitalisation of € 3,086.2 million at 31 December 2005.
The average number of shares traded on a daily basis in 2005
amounted to 355,751, compared to 434,262 in 2004, a year
that experienced a large increase in the float arising from the
partial sale by Suez Group in February 2004 of its shareholding.
Pursuant to a change in the Euronext Paris Stock Exchange
listing, effective from 21 February 2005, the Company’s share
Annual Report 2005
Financial accounts
12. Share capital
Legal Information
The application, since 1 January 2005, of regulations 200210 and 2004-06 of the Comité de Réglementation Comptable (French Accounting Standards Committee) relating respectively to asset depreciation and writedowns and to the
definition, recognition and measurement of assets had no
impact on Métropole Télévision SA financial statements.
Broadcasting quotas, requiring that 40% of audiovisual
programming be originally produced in French and that 60%
of audiovisual programming be European produced, were
complied with, throughout the day as well as during significant viewing hours, ie. 2 pm to 11 pm on Wednesdays and 5
pm to 11 pm on other days. In addition, M6 complied with the
free to air broadcast quota of 100 hours of brand new originally French and European produced programmes beginning
between 8:00 and 9:00 pm.
M6 also complied with the film broadcast quota of a maximum of 192 hours during the year, with no more than 144
hours during prime time, with at least 40% of these films originally produced in French and 60% European produced.
Finally, M6 complied with all other obligations concerning the
broadcast of music shows, cartoons and subtitled programmes for deaf people and those with hearing deficiencies.
Financial Report
10. Change
in accounting
principles
Management Report
97
Management Report
98
is now listed in Eurolist Compartment A (companies whose
average market capitalization exceeds € 1 billion).
In the new range of indices created, the Company’s share
was a component of the CAC Next 20 (comprising the 20
shares that follow these included in the CAC40) and the IT
CAC 20 (comprising the 20 tech shares the most representative in market capitalization and liquidity).
12.2. M6 share price and trading volume performances
Number of shares traded
Average closing price (€)
21,000,000
30
28
26
Financial accounts
24
22
Upon the revision of indices, effective at 1 September 2005,
the Métropole Télévision share was removed from the CAC
NEXT 20 index and was included in the sample of stocks
comprising the CAC MID100 index.
14,000,000
20
18
16
14
12
7,000,000
10
8
6
2
Februray
December
2006 January
October
November
September
July
August
May
June
April
March
Februray
December
2005 January
October
November
September
July
August
May
June
April
March
February
December
2004 January
October
November
September
July
August
May
June
April
March
February
2003 January
0
Financial Report
Legal Information
4
Annual Report 2005
2005
2006
Annual Report 2005
Monthly
€)
low (€
20.32
17.17
14.25
16.70
20.20
21.69
22.80
23.00
23.05
23.02
24.60
24.75
26.00
24.45
23.22
23.83
21.60
21.84
20.60
19.14
20.46
20.07
19.47
18.94
20.20
21.18
20.90
19.56
19.12
19.96
21.11
21.71
20.90
20.06
20.62
21.57
23.35
25.12
Traded value
€ millions)
(€
22.27
36.54
21.94
28.64
50.64
41.54
36.74
65.58
188.23
71.31
52.52
72.74
130.71
526.56
308.94
278.67
251.47
231.48
187.95
200.24
144.60
144.87
163.46
160.29
149.50
101.16
125.30
168.63
158.74
152.99
230.08
167.52
166.00
139.67
165.75
247.36
246.18
197.09
12.3. Buyback of company s
sharess
In 2005, the Company used successively the two authorisations to buyback its own shares that was conferred to it by the
General Meetings of 28 April 2004 and 28 April 2005.
These authorisations were only used within the framework of
the liquidity contract, in accordance with the Ethics Charter of
the AFEI, whose implementation was entrusted to the investment service provider CA Chevreux on 15 December 2004.
The contract was signed for one year, renewable by tacit agreement. The maximum amount of resources allocated to this
liquidity contract is 250,000 shares and € 5 million. At 31
December 2004, 145,500 treasury shares were concerned
by the operation of this contract, 104,500 additional shares
can thus be allocated.
At 31 December 2004, the contract had treasury shares holdings of 72,015 and cash holdings of € 1,479,008.50.
During the course of 2005, 672,861 shares were purchased
at an average price of € 21.35 and 716,876 shares were sold
at an average price of € 20.58 pursuant to the operation of
this contract, which had treasury shares holdings of 28,000
and cash holdings of € 2,467,238.10 at 31 December 2005.
In 2005, 611,530 shares worth € 9.37 million were allocated
to beneficiaries of the stock option plans.
Financial accounts
Monthly
€)
high (€
24.45
21.30
19.44
22.50
22.12
25.44
25.48
24.53
27.20
26.14
25.91
27.68
29.30
28.45
28.30
26.12
24.44
23.74
23.80
21.18
23.00
22.47
21.31
21.00
22.00
22.62
22.50
21.69
20.59
21.68
23.05
23.20
22.15
21.53
22.30
25.07
25.93
27.14
Legal Information
2004
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
Décember
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
Décember
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
Décember
January
February
Average closing
€)
price (€
22.09
18.93
17.30
20.44
21.31
23.84
23.83
23.87
24.96
24.97
25.12
25.85
27.48
25.92
25.22
25.04
22.98
22.74
21.76
20.24
21.91
21.12
20.12
20.22
21.37
21.88
21.64
20.63
19.89
20.95
22.49
22.48
21.42
20.86
21.36
23.17
24.43
26.25
Financial Report
2003
Number of
shares exchanged
994,730
1,917,330
1,298,977
1,382,235
2,374,300
1,750,844
1,531,524
2,751,336
7,315,332
2,838,208
2,095,922
2,784,981
4,702,017
20,092,974
12,044,250
11,187,213
10,871,677
10,217,074
8,713,417
9,982,569
6,613,623
6,873,562
8,137,349
7,978,258
7,017,033
4,613,010
5,793,573
8,235,525
7,957,168
7,310,855
10,279,858
7,439,025
7,712,411
6,690,850
7,770,319
10,608,354
10,048,792
7,528,877
Management Report
99
Financial Report
Legal Information
Financial accounts
Management Report
100
Report on the buyback programme that expired
on 28 April 2005
The Combined General Meeting of 28 April 2004 had authorised the Company to implement a share buyback plan. This
share buyback plan was approved by the AMF on 5 April 2004
under the authorisation number 04-248. It was in force up to
28 April 2005, the date of the Combined General Meeting,
which approved the new share buyback plan currently in force.
Between the General Meetings of 28 April 2004 and 28 April
2005, the Company used the authorisation to buy its own
shares as follows:
• firstly, to purchase 145,500 shares for an average price of
€ 19.74 shares in function of market conditions prevailing in
August 2004;
• secondly, to trade in its own shares within the framework of
a liquidity contract from 15 December 2004, according to the
following conditions:
Liquidity contract
Treasury shares allocated to the liquidity contract
on 15 December 2004
145,500
Number of shares purchased under the liquidity contract
from 15 December 2004 to 28 April 2005 166,757
Number of shares sold under the liquidity contract from
15 December 2004 to 28 April 2005
215,379
Number of shares held under the liquidity contract at
28 April 2005
96,878
Shares were purchased through the liquidity contract at an
average price of € 21.12 and sold at an average price of
€ 21.23.
Over this period, 249,750 shares were granted to stock option
plan beneficiaries.
A total of 312,257 shares were purchased and 465,129 shares sold within the framework of this share buyback plan.
At 28 April 2005, which is the date of implementation of the
new share buyback plan, the Company held 988,880 treasury shares, or 0.7% of its share capital.
Report on the current share buyback plan
The Combined General Meeting of 28 April 2005 decided in
its ninth resolution to approve a Company share buyback plan
for a duration of 18 months, allowing the Management Board
to purchase Company shares, up to a maximum of 10% of
the Company’s share capital, in order to fulfil the following
objectives, classified in decreasing order of priority:
• allocate shares upon the exercise of rights attached to
marketable securities such as conversion, exercise, redemption or exchange, within the framework of stock exchange
regulations, as well as allocate shares to Company and
Group employees and management, in particular within the
framework of profit sharing or share purchase option plans,
through a company saving plan or any other means provided by applicable regulations;
• activate the Métropole Télévision share secondary market or the share liquidity through a investment service provider, within the framework of a liquidity contract complying
with the Ethics Charter approved by the AMF;
• retain all or some of the purchased shares for future
exchange or payment, within the framework of potential
operations of growth by acquisitions;
• cancel shares, subject to the approval of the 8th resolution
by the Combined General Meeting.
The maximum purchase price has been set at € 50 per share
and the minimum selling price at € 10. The maximum amount
to be committed to this purchase programme is the amount
of free reserves that is € 466,533,165.
This programme was the object of an information note approved by the AMF on le 8 April 2005 under the number 05241.
The Combined General Meeting of 28 April 2005 decided in
its ninth resolution to allocate existing treasury shares at
31 December 2004 to the following objectives, in accordance
with the provisions of European Regulation n° 2273/2003
of 22 December 2003, coming into force on 13 October
2004:
- Allocation of free shares, for a maximum of 130,502 shares,
- Allocation of share purchase options, for a maximum of
840,530 shares,
- Market support, within the framework of a liquidity contract,
for a maximum of 176,515 shares.
During the financial year just ended, the Company used the
authorisation to buy its own shares that had been granted by
the Combined General Meeting of 28 April, 2005. This authorisation was solely used within the framework of the liquidity
contract, in accordance with the AFEI Ethics Charter. The
implementation of the liquidity contract was entrusted to CA
Chevreux investment services on 15 December 2004.
Summary disclosure table by the issuer of transactions carried out
on its own shares from 28 April 2005 to 28 February 2006
Percentage of share capital directly
or indirectly held :
0.36 %
Number of shares cancelled over
the past 24 months :
None
Number of treasury shares :
480,312 actions
Book value of treasury shares
at 28 February 2006 :
11,135,644 euros
Market value of treasury shares
at 28 February 2006:
12,127,878 euros
The Company did not use any derivative products within the
framework of its share buyback programme.
Annual Report 2005
101
Total gross flows
Sales/transfers
1,089,302,(*)
22.25 or 21.03 (**)
15.85
24,236,969
Positions open to date
Purchase open positions
Selling open positions
None
None
None
None
None
None
None
None
None
None
Management Report
Number of shares
Maximum exercise date
Transaction average price
Average exercise price
Amounts
Purchases
580,734
21.93
12,735,497
(*) including 625,220 shares corresponding to exercised share purchase options
(**) this average price includes share purchase options exercise prices of beneficiaries
Annual Report 2005
Financial accounts
The maximum purchase price has been set at € 40 per share.
The maximum amount to be committed to this purchase programme is restricted to the amount of free reserves that is
€ 507,463,888.
At 28 February 2006, the Company held 480,312 treasury shares, representing 0.36% of the share capital. These shares can be
analysed as follows:
Granting
of free
shares
130,502 shares
Treasury share allocation
to the different objectives at 28 February 2006
Granting of
Increasing share liquidity
share purchase
within the framework
options
of the liquidity contract
215,310 shares
134,500 shares
including 30,000
shares actually held by the contract
Legal Information
A proposal was submitted for approval to the Combined General Meeting of 24 April 2006 for a new share buyback programme according to the following conditions:
• shares involved: ordinary Métropole Télévision shares listed on compartment A of Euronext Paris Eurolist, ISIN code:
FR0000053225
• maximum purchase price: € 40
• maximum shareholding: 9.64% of the share capital,
taking account of treasury share held at 28 February 2006
• maximum duration: 18 months from the date of the General Meeting
• maximum funds committed to the realisation of this programme limited to the amount of free reserves: € 507,786,907.
• allocate shares upon the exercise of rights attached to
marketable securities such as conversion, exercise, redemption or exchange, within the framework of stock exchange
regulations, as well as allocate shares to Company and
Group employees and management, in particular within the
framework of profit sharing or share purchase option plans,
through a company saving plan or any other means provided by applicable regulations
• activate the Métropole Télévision share secondary market or the share liquidity through a investment service provider, within the framework of a liquidity contract complying
with the Ethics Charter approved by the AMF;
• retain all or some of the purchased shares for future
exchange or payment, within the framework of potential
operations of growth by acquisitions;
• cancel shares, subject to the approval of the 9th resolution
by the Combined General Meeting.
Total treasury shares
at 28 February 2006
480,312 shares
This programme replaces the share buyback programme approved by the Combined General Meeting of 28 April 2005.
Financial Report
Description of the new share buyback plan
Legal Information
Financial accounts
Management Report
102
12.4. Treasury sharess
At 31 December 2005, M6 held 492,002 of its own shares,
amounting to 0.37% of its share capital, which were classified on the consolidated Balance Sheet of Métropole Télévision as a reduction of equity at their acquisition cost of € 23 million.
A provision for loss on treasury shares disposal was established, amounting to € 12.5 million at 31 December 2005, in
order to adjust the book value of these shares to their stock
option allocation price.
The number of shares allocated for this purpose includes the
28,000 held in the liquidity contract.
In accordance with the coming into effect on 13 October 2004
of European Regulation N° 2273/2003 in application of EU
Directive 2003-6 CE, otherwise known as the Market Abuse
Directive, a proposal was submitted before the Combined
General Meeting of 28 April 2005 to approve the allocation
of shares acquired before 13 October 2004 as prescribed by
the said Directive: coverage of stock options, liquidity contract,
allocation of shares.
Total treasury shares at 31
December 2004
1,147,547 shares
including 72,015
shares held by the
contract
Granting
of free
shares
-
Granting
of free
shares
130,502 shares
Changes over the 2005 financial year
Granting
of share
purchase options
(611,530)
Increasing share liquidity
within the framework
of the liquidity contract
(44,015)
Treasury share allocation
to the various objectives at 31 December 2005
Granting
Increasing share liquidity
of share
within the framework
purchase options
of the liquidity contract
229,000 shares
132,500 shares
(655,545 shares)
Total treasury shares at
31 December 2005
492,002 shares
including 28,000
shares actually held by
the contract
Financial Report
The table below summarises the allocation of treasury shares held at 31 December 2004, as approved by the General
Meeting of 28 April 2005 and the position of treasury shares
at 31 December 2005 by objective, as follows:
Granting
of free
shares
130,502 shares
Treasury share allocation
to the different objectives at 31 December 2004
Granting
Increasing share liquidity
of share
within the framework
purchase options
of the liquidity contract
840,530 shares
176,515 shares
Annual Report 2005
12.5. Stock purchase and subscription option plans
12.5.1. Information on stock purchase and subscription option plansi
5 June 98
2 September 98 4 December 98
4 June 99
4 June 99 19 January 00
Purchase
Purchase
Purchase Purchase
705,000
-
745,000
-
600,000
120,000
380,000
380,000
09/02/01 12/04/01
09/01/05 12/03/05
14.11
13.64
645,000
685,000
-
26 May 00
30 June 00
7 June 01
7 June 02
28 April 04
25 July 03
14 November 03
Subscription Subscription Subscription Subscription Subscription
28 April 04
Total
2 June 05
Subscription Subscription
175,000
20,000
338,100
86,000
551,800
113,000
710,500
168,000
713,500
130,000
20,000
20,000
861,500
175,000
635,500 6,055,900
90,500
922,500
295,000 155,000
06/05/04 01/19/05
06/04/06 01/18/07
18.76
44.63
306,000
194,000
20,000
-
112,400
07/01/04
06/29/07
58.58
89,000
06/08/05
06/06/08
30.80
139,500
06/08/06
06/07/09
28.06
146,000
07/26/07
07/25/10
22.48
11/15/07
11/14/10
23.82
155,000
04/29/06
04/28/11
24.97
218,800
14,300
377,300
21,000
557,500
22,500
625,500
48,000
20,000
-
772,500
50,000
108,500 1,960,400
06/02/06
06/01/12
19.94
1,636,000
635,500 3,421,100
155,800
Financial accounts
Shareholders’ AGM date
Board meeting date
Option plan type
Total number of shares that may be purchased
or subscribed to
- Board members
- 10 highest
paid managers
Date options exercisable from
Option expiry date
Exercise or purchase price (€)
Number of shares subscribed to at 7 February 06
Remaining unexercised subscription/purchase options
Options cancelled during the year
Management Report
103
The 635,500 options allocation concerns 136 beneficiaries,
including Directors of the Company. Reminder: the option
exercise price was set without any rebate to the average share
price over the last 20 trading days preceding the implementation of the plan.
Annual Report 2005
Financial Report
In accordance with the authorisation granted by the Combined General Meeting of 28 April 2004, the Management
Board decided on 2 June 2005 to grant share options following the approval by the Supervisory Board.
Legal Information
Stock purchase options exercised to date by personnel relate to 1,636,000shares
Legal Information
Financial accounts
Management Report
104
12.5.2. Stock options granted to Board membersi
Board members benefited from the option allocation plan of 2 June 2005 in the following conditions:
Subscription or share purchase options granted
to each Board member and options exercised by them
> Options granted during the financial year
to each Board member by any company
included in the option allocation scope
Nicolas de Tavernost
Thomas Valentin
Jean d’Arthuys
Catherine Lenoble
Eric d’Hotelans
Number of options granted /
shares subscribed or purchased
Exercise
price (€)
Expiry
date
Plan approved by AGM
of 28 April 2004
Date of grant
27,500
18,000
15,000
15,000
15,000
19.94
19.94
19.94
19.94
19.94
1st June 2012
1st June 2012
1st June 2012
1st June 2012
1st June 2012
Board Meeting of 2 June 2005
Board Meeting of 2 June 2005
Board Meeting of 2 June 2005
Board Meeting of 2 June 2005
Board Meeting of 2 June 2005
In addition, a number of Board members exercised options during the financial year that had been granted in a prior financial year:
> Options exercised during the financial year:
Jean d’Arthuys
Jean d’Arthuys
Nicolas de Tavernost
25,000
25,000
55,000
14.11
13.64
18.76
Plan approved by AGM dated of
5 June 1998
5 June 1998
4 June 1999
Allocation Date
Board Meeting of 2 Sept. 1998
Board Meeting of 4 Dec. 1998
Board Meeting of 4 June 1999
12.5.3. Stock options granted to the 10 highest paid managers (excluding Board Members)i
The 10 leading share option beneficiaries during the financial year (excluding Board members) benefited from the option allocation plan of 2 June 2005 in the following conditions:
Financial Report
Stock subscription and purchase options granted to and exercised
by the 10 first beneficiaries (excluding executive officers)
> Options granted
> Options exercised
Number of options granted /
shares subscribed or purchased
111,500
387,800
Average
exercise price
19.94
14.61
Management Board Meeting Date
Meeting of 2 June 2005
Meetings of 4 Dec. and 4 June 1999
Annual Report 2005
105
This share allocation plan relates to 125,404 shares granted
to 44 beneficiaries under the two conditions of being members of staff in June 2007 and that the Group profitability over
the next two financial years (2005 – 2006).
In that respect and under these conditions, Board members received the following shares free of charge:
Shares granted free of charge
to each Board member
> > Shares granted free of charge
to each Board member
during the financial year
Nicolas de Tavernost
Thomas Valentin
Jean d’Arthuys
Catherine Lenoble
Eric d’Hotelans
Number of
shares granted
11,000
7,200
6,000
6,000
6,000
Share price on
allocation date
19.94
19.94
19.94
19.94
19.94
Expiry
date
Plan approved by
the AGM of 28 April 2005
3 June 2007
3 June 2007
3 June 2007
3 June 2007
3 June 2007
Allocation Date
Board meeting of 2 June 2005
Board meeting of 2 June 2005
Board meeting of 2 June 2005
Board meeting of 2 June 2005
Board meeting of 2 June 2005
Legal Information
In accordance with the authorisation granted by the Combined General Meeting of 28 April 2005 in its 11th resolution,
the Management Board decided on 2 June 2005 to grant
free shares following the approval by the Supervisory Board.
Financial accounts
Management Report
12.6. Free share allocation plan s
Stock subscription and purchase options granted to by
the 10 first beneficiaries (excluding executive officers)
> Options consenties information globale
Annual Report 2005
Number of
shares granted
Share price on
allocation date
Expiry
date
Plan approved
by the AGM of 28/04/05
44,600
19.94
3 June 2007
Board meeting of 2 June 2005
Financial Report
In addition, the 10 leading beneficiaries (excluding Board members) of free shares received the following number of shares:
Management Report
106
12.7. Executive officers’ remuneration and fringe benefitss
In application of Article L. 225-102-1, paragraphs 1 and 2 of the Commercial Code, we list the total remuneration received by the Group’s
executive officers, including fringe benefits.
12.7.1. Board members’ remuneration and fringe benefitsi
Financial Report
Legal Information
Financial accounts
Name
Company
Position
Date appointed
Remuneration (in €)
2004
Fixed (1)
Nicolas de TAVERNOST
Thomas VALENTIN
Eric d’HOTELANS
Catherine LENOBLE
Jean d’ARTHUYS
Métropole Télévision
Métropole Télévision
Métropole Télévision
M6 Publicité
Métropole Télévision
Chairman
05/26/00
Vice Chairman 05/26/00
Vice Chairman 11/14/03
01/26/01
05/26/00
(1) including use of a company car for each member of the
Management Board, with no other fringe benefits available.
(2) Variable remuneration comprising the following two items:
• additional remuneration based on the level of adherence to
the Group’s objective of Group share consolidated profit on
ordinary activities before tax and non-recurrent items, as defined by the Supervisory Board. As regards Catherine Lenoble, this remuneration is measured on the basis of M6 Publicité turnover objective;
• A Management Board performance bonus determined by
the Supervisory Board upon recommendation of the Remuneration Committee, within the limit of a maximum amount
set for each individual.
759,141
379,130
272,185
168,076
254,060
Variable
Additional
Performance
remuneration (2)
bonus (2)
(paid in 2005)
(paid in 2005)
290,800
250,000
174,480
150,000
63,976
45,000
73,175
30,490
42,562
58,410
2005
Fixed (1)
759,300
379,160
277,322
206,494
254,060
Variable
Additional
Performance
remuneration (2)
bonus (2)
(paid in 2006)
(paid in 2006)
322,500
250,000
193,500
150,000
70,950
45,000
47,201
45,000
70,160
58,410
In addition, Board members benefit from a legal retirement
benefit at the end of their career, in the same conditions as
group employees.
Annual Report 2005
107
Financial accounts
Please note the following:
- Rémy Sautter is Chairman and CEO of the Bayard d’Antin
SA property company, a subsidiary of RTL SA, a listed company.
- Ignace van Meenen is a Director of the Bayard d’Antin SA
property company, a subsidiary of RTL SA, a listed company.
They do not receive any remuneration or attendance fees from
these companies.
Gerhard Zeiler is CEO and Director of RTL Group SA, a listed company.
Supervisory Board Members
Albert Frère
Gérard Worms
Guy de Panafieu
Gehrard Zeiler
Rémy Sautter
Thomas Rabe
Bernard Arnault
Vincent de Dorlodot
Axel Ganz
Jean-Charles de Keyser
Jean Laurent
Yves-Thibault de Silguy
Annual Report 2005
Management Report
Supervisory Board members’ sole remuneration consists of
attendance fees.
Chairman of the Supervisory Board
Chairman of the Remuneration Committee
Chairman of the Audit Committee
Remuneration Committee Member
Audit Committee Member
Audit Committee Member
2005 attendance fees (in €)
18,000
12,000
12,000
10,000
10,000
10,000
8,000
8,000
8,000
8,000
8,000
8,000
Legal Information
All Board members cumulate a work contract and their position as members of the Management Board. However, the
Chairman of the Board’s work contract has been suspended
since 7 June 1996.
No Board member benefits from clauses providing that he/she
would receive compensation if made to leave his/her position
as a member of the Management Board.
However, compensation would be paid to the Chairman and
to three other Board members but only in respect of their work
contract and in case the break is at the initiative of the Company, except cases of serious or gross misconduct. The compensation would be measured on the basis of their average
fixed and variable remuneration of the past 12 months, excluding the performance bonus paid in respect of the Management Board’s activities
12.7.3. Supervisory Board i
attendance feesi
Financial Report
12.7.2. Severance payi
12.8. Cash dividend policys
Cash dividend distributions over the last 5 financial years were as follows:
€)
Per share (€
Cash dividend
Tax credit
Gross dividend
Yield (based on closing share price)
Pay-out ratio
With regard to its financial and cash flow generation situation,
M6 Group submitted for approval to the General Meeting of
28 April 2005 an increase in the distribution rate in order to
reach 80% of Group share of consolidated net profit. This is
a 25.4 % increase in net dividend. Thus over the past 5 years,
M6 shareholders have benefited from an average annual dividend increase of 13.3%.
2004
0.840
0.840
4.02 %
80 %
2003
0.670
0.335
1.005
2.57 %
67 %
2002
0.570
0.285
0.855
2.73 %
67 %
2001
0.570
0.285
0.855
1.78 %
65 %
2000
0.510
0.255
0.765
1.28 %
65 %
In respect of the 2005 financial year, a proposal will be submitted for approval to the Combined General Meeting of 24
April 2006 for the payment of a cash dividend of € 0.95 per
share (up 13.1%), corresponding to a pay out ratio of 80% of
Group share of consolidated net profit.
Financial Report
Legal Information
Financial accounts
Management Report
108
Annual Report 2005
No legal threshold crossing was brought to the attention of
the Company in 2005.
At 31 December 2005, in compliance with the declaration of
legal threshold crossings (1% of the Company’s share capital) disclosed to the Company, three institutional shareholders
held more than 2% of the Company’s share capital and one
institutional shareholder held more than 1% of the Company’s
share capital.
The Company was equally not aware of any investor, whether
institutional or from the general public, that directly or indirectly
owned more than 5% of the Company’s share capital or voting
rights.
Annual Report 2005
at 31 December 2004
No of shares owned % share capital % voting rights
64,625,201
49.00 %
34.00 %
6,594,435
5.00 %
5.04 %
1,147,547
0.87 %
0.00 %
120,500
0.09 %
0.09 %
59,401,007
45.04 %
45.43 %
28,349,410
21.49 %
21.68 %
31,051,597
23.54 %
23.75 %
131,888,690
100.00 %
84.57 %
There are no shareholder agreements currently in existence.
No concert action has been brought to the attention of the
Company.
Following the partial disengagement in February 2004 by the
Suez Group, the latter agreed to maintain a 5% shareholding
in the Company for a minimum period of 3 years that is until
2 February 2007, in accordance with requirements set by the
CSA.
In application of the bylaws modified by the General Meeting
of 18 March 2004 (Article 35), following the withdrawal of
Suez and the amendment to the CSA agreement signed on
2 February 2004, no other shareholder or group of shareholders acting jointly can own more than 34% of voting rights.
Therefore, RTL Group voting rights are limited to 34%. Subject to this provision, voting rights attached to shares are proportional to the portion of the share capital they represent and
each share gives the right to one vote. There are no double
voting right shares. Measures undertaken in order to prevent
unwarranted control are detailed in the report on internal control
(Legal Information section).
at 31 December 2003
No of shares owned % share capital % voting rights
63,816,796
48.39 %
34.00 %
45,116,229
34.21 %
34.00 %
1,390,352
1.05 %
0.00 %
21,565,313
16.35 %
16.35 %
131,888,690
100.00 %
84.35 %
Financial accounts
At 31 December 2005, some 22,960 shareholders held shares in Métropole Télévision SA, according to a Euroclear survey. 151,169 of these shares were held by members of the
Management Board (0.1% of the company’s share capital),
with a further 2,000 shares held by members of the Supervisory Board.
% voting rights
34.00 %
5.02 %
0.00 %
0.09 %
46.15 %
25.05 %
21.10 %
85.25 %
Legal Information
at 31 December 2005
No of shares owned % share capital No voting rights
RTL Group
64,049,571
48.56 %
44,674,874
Suez
6,594,435
5.00 %
6,594,435
Treasury shares
492,002
0.37 %
0.00 %
Personnel
115,400
0.09 %
115,400
Institutional and general public
60,637,282
45.98 %
60,637,282
in France
32,916,149
54.28 %
32,916,149
in other countries
27,721,133
45.72 %
27,721,133
Total
131,888,690
100.00 %
112,021,991
Financial Report
12.9. Main shareholders at 31 December 2005s
Management Report
109
Management Report
110
12.10. Agreementst
between M6 and relatedt
partiess
Legal Information
Financial accounts
12.10.1. Parent companyi
and subsidiary agreementsi
Relations between the parent company and its subsidiaries
are presented in subsection 2.3.3 of the Legal Information
section of this Reference Document. In addition, the Notes to
the Consolidated Financial Statements set out the contribution of each sector to the consolidated income statement and
balance sheet in the Segment Information section (IAS 14).
Finally, please find below the contributions of major Group
companies in terms of non-current assets, financial debt,
balance sheet cash and cash equivalents, cash flow from operations and dividends paid by subsidiaries to the parent company during the financial year.
There is no financial debt in the Group companies.
Financial Report
12.10.2. Shareholder agreementsi
Shareholder agreements are described in subsection 2.3.1 of
the Legal Information section of this Reference Document.
€ millions)
(€
Non-current assets
including
SND
Mistergooddeal
Immobilière M6
Métropole Télévision
TCM DA
Paris Première
M6 Studio
SNC
others
2005
237.8
43.6
39.4
32.3
20.5
17.7
16.1
15.8
14.6
37.8
Balance sheet cash and cash equivalents
including
Métropole Télévision
Mistergooddeal
M6 Publicité
others
243.1
225.8
5.3
4.1
7.9
Cash flow from operations
including
Métropole Télévision
M6 Publicité
M6 Interactions
TPS
HSS
SND
others
210.5
84.9
40.9
19.2
16.2
15.5
13.4
20.4
Dividends paid to Métropole Télévision
including
M6 Publicité
M6 Interactions
M6 Web
W9 Productions
48.0
26.8
20.0
0.5
0.7
Annual Report 2005
111
M6 does not depend particularly on its sales and purchases
from a limited number of customers, given the large number
of advertisers and producers of programmes.
The advertising TV market primarily serves advertisers of mass
consumption products and services.
Regulation changes that result in additional constraints in
terms of costs or that lead to uncertainties in the level of advertiser revenues on this segment can have an influence on the
level of their TV advertising investments, and thus have an
adverse impact on he Group’s advertising revenues.
However, the advertising market regularly features the appearance of new industries, which become new development
opportunities for the Group. In addition, their significant number, the constant renewal of brands, and the highly competitive environment significantly limit the risks associated with
such a concentration.
Annual Report 2005
For its other activities and sources of revenues, M6 Group has
developed a products and services offer essentially focusing
on the general public, through major national distribution networks.
13.1.2. Customer risksi
In order to secure its advertising revenues, M6 Publicité regularly verifies the solvency of its advertisers and systematically
that of its new advertisers.
General Conditions of Sale provide for the prepayment of
advertising campaigns for those advertisers not meeting the
required solvency criteria. The risk of non-payment of M6
advertising campaigns is less than 0.1% of advertising revenues.
There are no individual customer risks of importance that would
impact the Group’s sustained profitability for its other activities.
The Group neither securitises nor refinances trade receivables.
13.2.1. Foreign exchange riski
Analysis of foreign exchange risk of continuing
activities
The Group purchases both programmes and finished goods
from foreign suppliers in respect of its broadcasting and diversification activities (home-shopping, collections). Those purchases are primarily denominated in US dollars or pounds sterling.
In order to protect itself from random market movements that
could adversely impact its financial income and wealth, M6
Group decided to hedge its purchases. The coverage is undertaken at the signing of supplier contracts and is weighted as
a function of the underlying due date.
The Group primarily uses forward hedges.
The currency forward hedge portfolio is subject to constant
follow-up.
Analysis of exposure to foreign exchange risk
€ millions (1)
Assets
Debts
Off-balance sheet
Unhedged position
Forex hedges
USD
1
(13)
(36)
(48)
27
Total
1
(13)
(36)
(48)
27
Net exposed position
(21)
(21)
(1) at closing price
The full balance sheet is hedged. USD off-balance sheet commitments notably include multi-year contracts covering seve-
Financial accounts
M6 operates in a competitive environment in which four TV
networks account for virtually all TV advertising revenues in
France.
The advertising market features similarly apply to the Group’s
digital channels, which however operate on a much smaller
scale market for the time being. The Group’s digital channels
also benefit (except for W9, which is a free DTT channel) from
revenues from cable operators and distribution platforms.
13.2. Market risksi
Legal Information
13.1.1. Audiovisual and i
advertising market risks i
The advertising market in France is fully transparent, notably
following the introduction of the Law of 1 April 1993, otherwise known as the Sapin Law. Its evolution is largely correlated with macroeconomics evolution (GDP, household consumption).
Financial Report
13.1. Businesst
environment riskst
Management Report
13. Risk managementi
Legal Information
Financial accounts
Management Report
112
ral Group companies. The Group elected to hedge a fraction
of total exposure as a function of the due date: all positions
falling due within two years were hedged, while others falling
due in a more distant future were only partly covered. The
Group’s net exposed position for all its activities is € 21 million, which would yield a € 0.2 million loss in the event of an
unfavourable foreign exchange movement of € 0.01 against
the US dollar.
Analysis of exposure to interest rate risk of
continuing activities
Analysis of foreign exchange risk of activities
held for disposal
(€ millions)
Within 1 year
Variable rate financial debt
(2)
Figures disclosed below represent M6 share in the financial
statements of activities held for disposal.
Total financial debt
Variable rate financial
assets
Other unexposed
financial assets
Total financial assets
244
Analysis of exposure to foreign exchange risk
(€ millions) (1)
Financial assets
Debts
Off-balance sheet
Unhedged position
Forex hedges
USD
0
(0)
(30)
(29)
4
GBP
(0)
(5)
(5)
3
Total
0
(1)
(35)
(34)
7
Net exposed
position
(25)
(2)
(27)
Financial Report
(1) at closing price
Net exposed position in foreign currency (re-measured in Euro
at closing prices) after taking hedges into account is a foreign
currency purchase position of € 27 million. TPS has entered
into multi-year contract due to the nature of its operations,
which explains the high off-balance-sheet exposure.
The risk of loss on the net exposed position is € 0.3 million in
the event of an unfavourable foreign exchange movement of
€ 0.01 against all other currencies.
The Group only had the following debts at 31 December 2005,
excluding TPS:
• the portion of debts towards other shareholders in jointlyowned companies
• two medium-term financing transactions established by a
subsidiary for the acquisition of premises.
13.2.2. Interest rate riski
Maturity schedule of financial debt and financial assets at 31
December 2005
1 to 5 years
(5)
Total
(7)
(2)
(5)
(7)
236
6.6
243
7
7
7
250
Variable rate Unexposed
<1 year
>1 year
Financial liabilities
(2)
(5)
Financial assets
236
6.6
7
Total
(7)
250
Net position
244
2
7
Figures disclosed below represent M6 share in the financial
statements of activities held for disposal.
Fixed
(€ millions)
Financial debt
6
Financial assets (marketable
securities and cash)
Unhedged position
Hedging: fixed rate
payer swap
Analysis of exposure of variable rate net
positions within one year
235
Analysis of exposure to interest rate risk of
activities held for disposal
Group variable rate position is positive by € 235 million, corresponding to Group excess cash deposits. This position is
primarily comprised of SICAV’s (money-market funds), FCP’s
(monetary mutual funds), or variable rate loans selected according to precise criteria of credit risks, liquidity risks and in compliance with M6 Group deposit procedures (described in paragraph 4. Cash flow management policy).
Variable Unexposed
rate
<1 year
50
0
(2)
6
48
27
(27)
Net exposed position 34
21
Total
56
(2)
0
54
0
54
Taking into account the interest rate hedge portfolio at 31
December 2005, net exposed position after variable rate hedging within one year is a liability of € 21 million. A 1 basis point
increase in short-term interest rates would result in a decrease
in net profit on activities held for disposal (TPS) of € 0.2 million and would represent an 11% increase in financial expenses for these activities (excluding investment revenues) for
the whole of the 2005 financial year. This € 0.2 million increase
in financial expenses would have represented a decrease of
7% of M6 Group net financial income for the whole of the
2005 financial year.
Annual Report 2005
13.2.4. Liquidity riski
Liquidity risk of continuing activities
M6 Group is not exposed to any liquidity risk, in light of its net
financial position and since it does not use credit derivatives.
Liquidity risk of activities held for disposal
TPS Group had significant liquid assets at 31 December 2005
as the Group had confirmed bilateral credit lines at its disposal for an amount of € 84.8 million (M6 Group share). These
credit lines will fall due between one and five year. € 18.4 million were used at 31 December 2005, representing a utilisation ratio of 21.7%.
Annual Report 2005
TPS confirmed credit lines do not include any financial covenant or trigger event.
The most serious consequences regarding a possible nonadherence by M6 to its commitments concern the renewal of
its broadcasting licence. Article 28-1-I-2° of the Law of 30
September 1986 prescribes that a broadcasting licence may
not be renewed, outside a call for tenders, if a sanction imposed on the broadcaster is of such a nature as to justify this
non-renewal, without prejudice to a call for tenders.
13.3. Legal risksi
13.3.1. Regulatory risksi
M6 operates a private terrestrial TV network, whose signals
are broadcast unscrambled throughout continental France. It
was initially awarded a 10-year broadcasting licence on 1
March 1987, with an expiry date of 28 February 1997, within
the framework of Article 30 of the Law of 30 September
1986, which was subsequently modified pursuant to freedom
of communication.
Primarily financed by advertising revenues, M6 is bound by
the general obligations arising from this legal category and
from the particular obligations arising from its licence agreement.
M6’s initial licence was renewed in July 1996 and July 2001
for two successive 5-year terms, from 1 March 1997 and 1
January 2002, respectively.
These renewals were the object of negotiations with the CSA,
in accordance with the provisions of the Law of 30 September 1986.
The agreement of 24 July 2001, which expires on 1 January
2007, may cover a period of 5 additional years in the event
that M6 wishes to avail itself of its priority right as prescribed
by the modified Law of 1986, regarding the offering of a digi-
M6 Group believes that infractions that could lead to such a
renewal refusal would be a repeated non-adherence to the
network’s different quotas.
In this regard, M6 has put into place a set of control systems
that monitors on a daily basis its prescribed production and
broadcast quotas. In addition, one of these systems is exclusively focused on monitoring the network, ensuring on a daily
basis that all programme contents are in accordance with
regulations in force.
The Law on disabled persons’ equal rights, equal opportunities, participation and citizenship, adopted on 11 February
2005, introduced the obligation for channels with audience
levels of 2.5% or over to subtitle all their programmes for the
deaf and hard of hearing, except advertising, within the next
5 years. Therefore, M6 will have to subtitle an increasing share
of its programmes from 2006, in order to progressively reach
the objective set for 2010. The matter is currently being negotiated with the CSA and will soon change Article 34 of the
agreement, which initially provided for 1,000 hours of subtitled programmes per year by 2006.
No new regulations have been adopted since the beginning
of 2006 that could have a significant impact on Métropole
Télévision Group.
Financial accounts
The overall net position of the treasury share portfolio is € 12.5
million. Only shares held for the allocation of free shares and
for the purpose of the liquidity contract are affected by share
price changes, due to the previous establishment of provisions
in respect of shares held for the allocation of share purchase
options. A 10% movement in the M6 share price would have
a € 0.68 million impact on the value of treasury shares.
tal terrestrial TV service that is until 1 January 2012.
Legal Information
Treasury shares held as marketable securities are valued at
the stock market price, except for treasury shares held for the
purposes of allocation pursuant to a stock option purchase
plan, for which the lower of acquisition, stock market or exercise price is retained.
Credit risk
Financial Report
13.2.3. Treasury share riski
Management Report
113
Legal Information
Financial accounts
Management Report
114
However, the transposition by France of the European Directive “Television without Frontiers” on advertising restrictions, in
its current format, would have a favourable impact on TV channels, notably by relaxing rules in terms of advertising volumes.
In addition, the Decree of 7 October 2003 authorises the distribution sector to advertise on national free-to-air channels
from 1 January 2007, as this sector is already authorised to
advertise on cable and satellite channels since 1 January
2004.
13.3.2. Intellectual property, i
freedom of press, and personali
privacyi
M6 Group’s broadcast of audiovisual programmes, whether
produced in-house or by third parties, is susceptible to claims
of various natures concerning the violation of provisions relating to laws on intellectual property rights, press rights and
personal privacy rights.
No contractual provision can provide M6 Group with total protection against legal recourse, particularly with regard to legal
action matters based on the Law of 29 July 1881 on the freedom of the press.
Financial Report
In addition, M6 Group Brand Diversification activities may generate claims regarding the infringement of the aforementioned
rights.
Nevertheless, procedures have been implemented within M6
Group to protect it from this type of risk: contract mechanisms
(guarantee clauses) and internal procedures, such as assignment of legal advisors to production in-charges, pre-screening and guidelines, which will enable this risk to be considerably reduced.
13.4. Major operating risksi
M6 Group does all that is possible to ensure the uninterrupted broadcast of programmes on the M6 TV Network and on
thematic channels it controls.
Any exceptional event resulting in the inability to access the
different buildings of the M6 Group would have a major impact
on its activity. For this reason, the Group this year strengthened procedures guaranteeing continuity of service for key processes by locating them at an extremely secure external site.
13.4.1. Broadcasting and i
transmission signal break risks i
M6 programmes are currently received by French households
through the following transmission means:
• electromagnetic beams from 107 main transmission sites
and 856 retransmission sites operated by TDF,
• satellite transmission (Atlantic Bird 3 for unscrambled transmission and Hot Bird for TPS transmission),
• cable TV transmission (“must-carry analogue” transmission
requirement for cable operators).
The TDF company ensures the carrying (feeding broadcast
sites with M6 signal) and broadcast of M6 programmes (as
well as those of all other national TV networks) in a joint manner through its terrestrial analogue and satellite network.
TDF is the sole television signal transmission operator in France,
as there is no other alternative offer that could act as a substitute for the TDF network.
Within the framework of the launch of DTT, M6 Group will
depend on the R4 multiplex for the three existing operators
on the French market (TDF, Towercast, Antalis).
M6 is thus dependent on TDF for the transmission of its signal,
and may not call upon any other means of transmission in the
event that the TDF network fails.
Transmission sites are for the most part secured thanks to
their multiplicity.
However, antenna systems are not fully sheltered from mishaps
(antennas, guide wave and frequencies multiplexer), and electric supply continuity may be overlooked by TDF (responsibility of EDF).
The injury that M6 may be subject to in the event of a transmitter failure is of course proportional to the viewing audience
size served by the transmitter. This is why M6 has negotiated
with TDF very short service times in the event of transmission
failure.
13.4.2. Industrial and i
environmental risksi
M6 Group operations do not structurally generate any significant environmental impacts, and as a result do not incur any
industrial or environmental risks in light of existing regulations.
Nevertheless, Métropole Télévision Group does take its environmental protection responsibilities seriously, particularly with
regard to the recycling of waste produced by its activities, such
as the recycling of batteries, laser cartridges, neon lights and
videocassettes through a recycling unit.
Water, raw materials and energy consumption are monitored
and controlled by the Group’s General Services unit, reflecting M6’s commitment to consumption reduction and the instalment of energy saving equipment. In this context, the Group’s
main site was equipped in 2002 with a regulation valve enabling
Annual Report 2005
115
Water consumption in thousands of cubic metres
2004: 24.9 thousand m3
2005: 24.6 thousand m3
Consumption of electric energy (in KwH)
2004: 6,554,870 Kwh
2005: 7,281,992 Kwh
The rise recorded between 2004 and 2005 is primarily explained by the installation of additional editing equipment.
CO2 emissions (in millions of kilograms)
2004: 0.437 million Kg
2005: 0.431 million Kg
Waste production (in tonnes)
2004: 225 Tonnes
2005: 228 Tonnes
The rise recorded between 2004 and 2005 is primarily explained by the increase in workforce.
Annual Report 2005
Property damage insurance
Policy : Industrial and professional block policy
Insured parties: METROPOLE TELEVISION, its subsidiaries and/or related companies.
Coverage: Damages to a maximum of € 40,000,000 per
loss per year.
Policy : All risks for IT and technical equipment
Insured parties : METROPOLE TELEVISION, its subsidiaries and/or related companies.
Guaranties : monetary damages arising from all direct
material losses and all direct material damages caused to
equipment to a maximum of € 20,000,000 per loss per
year
Executive officer general liability insurance
Insured parties: METROPOLE TELEVISION, its senior
managers(1) (by law or fact) and Board members of Métropole Télévision SA and its subsidiaries
Guaranties : monetary damages arising from Board members and senior management civil liability up to a maximum
of € 11,500,000 per insured period.
(1)
Senior managers and Directors: individuals, past present
or future, ordinarily invested with company powers pursuant
to the laws or bylaws of subsidiaries.
Management Report
Policy: Professional and civil liability
Insured parties: METROPOLE TELEVISION, its subsidiaries and/or related companies, groups created by or for
personnel, legal representatives and servants of the insured
Coverage: monetary damages arising from personal injury,
property damage or moral prejudice caused to third parties
by the Group’s operations, up to a maximum of
€ 16,000,000 per loss for all professional liability type
damages and up to a maximum of € 7,000,000 per loss per
year for all civil liability type damages.
Financial accounts
Consumption of water, energy resources, as well as CO2 emissions and waste production evolved as follows:
M6 Group has adopted a prudent risk analysis and
prevention policy in order to limit the occurrence and
financial impact of such risks. In order to complement these
efforts, M6 Group has put into place an insurance policies
plan focusing on the coverage of major risks, thereby
providing for adequate coverage according to risk
assessment, its own capabilities and the insurance market
conditions.
Métropole Télévision Group ensures the appropriateness of
its insurance policies in relation to its requirements.
The major insurance policies subscribed to by the Group
are listed below, followed by category of major risks
covered (information below is provided purely on an
indicative basis), other than those concerning FC Girondins
de Bordeaux, which has its own insurance policies.
Public general liability insurance
Legal Information
A centralised technical control system, enabling the remote
setting of heating and air conditioning configurations, was put
into place, authorising the remote regulation of office temperatures as a function of such criteria as, for example, the level
of occupancy of different areas.
13.5. Insurance coveragei
In 2005, the annual cost of insurance premiums to the
Group amounted to € 902 thousand (including the Girondins de Bordeaux Football Club).
All of M6 Group insurance contracts were renewed in
2006 on similar bases as those of 2005.
There are no captive insurance companies.
Financial Report
a 40% reduction in natural gas consumption from that date.
Financial Report
Legal Information
Financial accounts
Management Report
116
14. Significant
contracts signed
over the past
24 last months
The TPS agreement, as described in the “Significant Agreements” section, is the sole significant contract entered into
by M6 Group outside the normal scope of its operations over
the last 24 months.
15. Human resources
15.1. M6 group workforcesi
a. Workforce size, hirings (Full Time Permanent (FTP)
and Fixed Term Contracts (FTC)), departures and causes, outsourced work.
M6 Group employed an average permanent workforce of
1,298 in 2005, compared with 1,142 in 2004. Excluding Football Club des Girondins de Bordeaux, the average permanent
workforce of M6 increased to 1,126 from 978 the previous
year. This increase is notably due to the high level of hirings
in 2004, as there were 1,280 FTP employees at 31 December 2004.
At 31 December 2005, permanent workforce was composed of 1,327 employees (excluding Mistergooddeal), of which
165 work on a fixed term contract. The employees are split
between Métropole Télévision (538 personnel) and its subsidiaries (789 personnel), a distribution that is virtually the same
as last year.
In 2005, 145 personnel were hired on a full time permanent
contract basis, compared to 165 in 2004. The majority of FTP
hirings (57%) were undertaken by the Group’s Free to Air TV
business. 20 contract workers in the performing arts (occasional) and freelance journalists were hired on a full time permanent contract basis.
Freelance journalists and contract workers full-time equivalents decreased by 5% to 438, from 462 for 2004. The integration policy of this category of employee launched in 2003
was thus pursued in order to reduce the level of insecurity.
During 2005, 12 members of personnel were made redundant for personal reasons. In addition, 86 employees left the
Company after tending their resignation, thus reducing the
growth in personnel to 47.
The average age of Group personnel in 2005 slightly increased to 34. M6 Group employed more women (52%) than men
in 2005, compared to 50% in 2004. This is 56% excluding
Football des Girondins de Bordeaux. Women accounted for
46% of Group’s executives and, excluding Football Club des
Girondins de Bordeaux, 54% of the Group’s workforce.
M6 Group primarily outsources to sub-contractors its reception, security, facilities cleaning and maintenance, company
restaurant and information systems maintenance projects activities, with M6 Group subcontractors employing 172 persons
in the delivery of these services (146 in 2004), primarily as a
result of information systems developments.
b. Working week organisation / Full time and parttime employee breakdown / Absenteeism and causes
In accordance with the Labour Code, all of the Group’s employees
benefit from a reduction in their working week since February
2000, in the form of reduced hours or days according to their
categories. Part-time employees account for 6% of the Group’s
workforce, comparable with 2004. The Group’s cumulative
absenteeism rate for 2005, including paid leave, was 16% of
hours worked (compared to 16.19% in 2004). The Group’s
illness and maternity leave absenteeism rate for 2005 was
5%, unchanged from 2004.
Annual Report 2005
The Group’s Company Savings Plan was renewed in December 2005. It benefits from a double employer’s contribution of
200% up to maximum of € 800 for 12 months presence. It
concerns employees having worked at least three months
during the period (or 60 service acts for contract workers for
performing arts and freelance journalists).
Close to 62%, or 988 of the Group’s 1,595 employees and
managers have subscribed to the M6’s CSP. Group companies contributed € 702 thousand to the CSP in 2005, com-
Annual Report 2005
A profit-sharing agreement was signed in 2005 (excluding
FCGB), in order to associate personnel more closely to the
improvement of Group performance and to share the growth
in operating profit, which result from their efficiency and involvement in the Company. On the basis of 2005 results, an
amount of € 2,312 thousand will be paid to personnel in 2006,
in respect of the 2005 financial year.
Finally, the management of the employee savings was entrusted to an external organisation, which proposes personnel the
following four separate funds, varying in terms of yields and
risks:
-FCPE FRUCTI AVENIR 3: diversified share-based employee
mutual fund (70% shares - 30% bonds), high yield and high
risk;
-FCPE M6 Diversifié: interest rate-based employee mutual
fund (20% shares - 80% bonds), low yield, low risk;
-FCPE FRUCTI AVENIR 6: money-based employee mutual
fund (100% money market), low yield and risk-free.
- a Métropole Télévision share fund.
This organisation reports on its management of the funds at
least once a year to personnel representatives and to Group
management.
d. Promotion and career development
In 2005, nearly 85% of personnel had a formal annual review
with their manager. Assessment criteria go beyond results
achieved during the financial year and focus on know-how
(technical skills, organization, ability to analyse and to make
In addition, all vacancies are posted on the Group’s intranet in
order to give the priority to internal candidates. Similarly, vacant
positions are offered in priority to freelance and contract workers as opposed to external candidates, if their skills are compatible with these positions.
e. Employee relations and collective agreements
Works councils, personnel delegation and personnel representatives contribute to the quality of social relations, along
with the hygiene and safety of working condition committees.
Over 100 meetings were held in that respect in 2005.
The Group is as committed as ever to develop the training and
information of personnel and trade union representatives by
associating them closely to major actions undertaken by the
Group. Thus, social dialogue remains a Group priority. A number of agreements were concluded in 2005: a medical expense
agreement, a profit-sharing agreement and an agreement
relating to the company saving plan.
f. Health and safety
Health and safety conditions are periodically monitored, notably within the framework of the Health and Safety Committee, resulting in the introduction of numerous measures in
2005 to improve working conditions. An exit drill was conducted in 2005 at Métropole Télévision head office, which is the
group building that has the largest number of personnel.
Financial accounts
• PSP / CSP
Personnel employed by M6 Group companies benefit from
two distinct Profit Sharing Plans: one for the Group’s home
shopping activities, the other for the Group’s parent company
Métropole Télévision SA and most of its subsidiaries.
In 2005, € 5,776,411 was distributed to 1,655 personnel,
including 539 contract workers and freelance journalists. This
is slightly less than 2004, when € 5,976,709 was distributed
to 1,583 personnel, including 569 contract workers and freelance journalists
Total CSP contributions and payments in 2005 amounted to
€ 6,478 thousand, compared to € 6,376 thousand in 2004.
suggestions), attitude (commitment – result-orientation, team
spirit – communication, availability – flexibility, leadership) and
if required the ability to manage (decide, motivate, measure
and control results, lead a team, integrate the strategic dimension). Personnel also communicate their promotion and training expectations at those meetings.
Legal Information
The average wage of full time employees (payroll / average
workforce size, excluding Football Club Girondins de Bordeaux) for 2005 was €41,515, compared to € 43,743 for
2004.
pared to 943 employees and € 637 thousand for 2004.
Financial Report
c. Remuneration evolution / Social security charges /
M6 Group Profit Sharing Plan (PSP) and Company
Saving Plan (CSP)
• Remuneration evolution
Group payroll paid to permanent personnel (excluding Football Club Girondins de Bordeaux) totalled € 79,752 thousand
against € 73,934 thousand in 2004. Social security charges
as a percentage of payroll amounted to 48% for all categories of employees.
Management Report
117
Financial Report
Legal Information
Financial accounts
Management Report
118
A medical premises located at 89 avenue Charles de Gaulle
in Neuilly was made available to the occupational health service in order to facilitate medical examination for the personnel of companies based in this city.
g. Training
Internal training represented 30% of all training actions.
Training was provided in the following areas:
• management, annual review, team building, delegation;
• foreign languages, mostly English
• personal development such as time management or
speaking in public
• command of IT tools and their environment (for example: television legal environment).
In addition, a corporate project was conducted in 2005, resulting in the digitation of the national editorial office. In order to
assist personnel in this new organisation of over 70 employees,
both permanent and contract personnel received training in
the new tools and have acquired new skills. Specific training
programmes were defined by the teams involved. The training
budget dedicated to this project amounted to € 700 thousand
in 2005. Personnel should receive further assistance in 2006.
The Group negotiated two industry memorandums of understanding in relation to training: the first one on the financing of
audiovisual training signed on 17 January 2005 and the second
one on the application of the DIF (individual training right)
signed on 28 April 2005.
Most of them attend a meeting explaining the functioning rules
of the company they were hired into. Before the end of the
trial period, the manager is expected to call the new employee
to a meeting and give him/her a first assessment of his/her
performance.
h. Employment of handicapped persons
Aside from directly employing handicapped persons, M6 Group
has for many years outsourced the performance of repetitive
administrative tasks, such as mail sorting, to workshops for
the handicapped.
i. Charitable works
M6 Group allocates 0.9%, or € 718 thousand of its employee
payroll for charitable work contributions.
15.2. Remuneration of i
10 highest paidiemployees i
In 2005, a total amount of € 4,920 thousand was paid to the
10 highest paid employees, compared to € 4,968 thousand
in 2004 (benefits in kind included).
The 10 highest paid employee include Board members but
exclude FC Girondins de Bordeaux, due to the atypical nature
of this activity within a private television group.
• Induction policy of young graduates and trainees:
Each new Group employee is now invited to an induction seminar, which sets out the various Group businesses, as well as
its major strategic direction. Hired personnel and trainees are
welcomed in their respective teams by their direct supervisor.
Annual Report 2005
Annual Report 2005
TF1 and NRJ Groups’ appeals
TF1and NRJ have launched appeals before the French Conseil
d’Etat against the CSA decision of March 2005, changing a
number of provisions of the W9 agreement (formerly M6
Music). The matters are currently being investigated.
To the Company’s knowledge, no other litigation, governmental, legal or arbitration procedures or exceptional event is likely
to have or to have had in the recent past a significant impact
on the Company and Group’s financial position, results, activities and assets.
Financial accounts
This retransmission was the object of four separate litigations
by the Swiss broadcaster SSR, of which only one remains
pending:
- two legal proceedings before the Tribunal of Freiberg (initial
proceeding and appeal) for a temporary injunction seeking to
block the broadcasting in full or part of all M6 programmes
including the said advertisement breaks. The Tribunal dismissed both of these proceedings initiated by SSR;
- legal proceedings before the French Conseil d’Etat, which
rendered its decision on 21 November 2003, confirming the
exclusive application of French Law regarding M6’s broadcasts in Switzerland, provided that advertising breaks respect
both French and Swiss law;
- one legal proceeding before the Tribunal of Freiberg, seeking to recognise that M6’s broadcast constitutes an infringement of copyright and acts of unfair competition. Judgement is expected for mid-2006.
In addition, M6 challenged before the French Conseil d’Etat,
at the beginning of 2005, the request of the CSA to change
the agreement of 8 October 2001, with a view to integrate
the provision of a 2002 Decree. According to M6, such a
change would adversely affect the nature of its activities by
bringing the law and jurisdiction of its Swiss broadcasting
signal in line with that of cable and satellite channels. Judgement is expected in 2006.
Bouygues Group appeal
The Bouygues Group has launched an appeal against the
CSA decision allowing for the recomposition of Métropole
Télévision SA’s share capital, pursuant to its partial disengagement of Suez.
The French Conseil d’Etat, in a decision made public on 20
April 2005, dismissed the claim of Bouygues. This decision
definitely validated the authorisation given by the CSA and
confirmed all M6 shareholders in their rights.
Legal Information
M6 advertising breaks in Switzerland
Pursuant to the CSA’s decision of 8 October 2001, M6 was
authorised to make advertising breaks in Switzerland for programmes it broadcasts there, within the framework of a secondary retransmission, and in application of the provisions of the
European Council’s Transborder Television international agreement.
Financial Report
16. Exceptional events and litigationi
Management Report
119
17. Statutory Auditors’ feesi
Statutory auditors’ fees and other fees
For the 2005 financial year
(€ thousands)
Financial Audit
Statutory audit, certification
of parent company
and Group financial statements
Other audit work
Sub-total
Other Services
Tax, legal and administrative
Information technologiesn
Internal audit
Other (to be specified if
> 10% of audit fees) (1)
Sub-total
TOTAL
Ernst & Young
2005
2004
2005
KPMG
2004
2005
TOTAL
2004
354
75
429
303
303
273
45
318
251
23
274
627
120
747
554
23
577
-
77
77
-
81
81
-
158
158
429
380
318
355
747
735
(1) Transition to IFRS
Financial Report
Legal Information
Financial accounts
Management Report
120
Annual Report 2005
Press releases and notices
Press releases and notices
• 27 January 2005: 2004 4th quarter and 2004 full year turnover. Publication to the BALO of 11 February 2005 (n° 18)
• 28 April 2005: 2005 1st quarter turnover. Publication in the
BALO of 13 May 2005 (n°57)
• 27 July 2005: 2005 2nd quarter and 1st half-year turnover.
Publication to the BALO of 24 August 2005 (n°101)
• 27 October 2005: 2005 3rd quarter turnover. Publication in
the BALO of 23 December 2005 (n°153)
• 31 January 2006: 2005 4th quarter turnover. Publication in
the BALO of 8 February 2006 (n°17)
Annual and interim financial results
• 8 March 2005: annual results at 31 December 2004. Publication in the BALO of 13 April 2005 (n°44)
• 31 August 2005: interim results at 30 June 2005. Publication in the BALO of 11 November 2005 (n°135)
• 8 March 2006: annual results at 31 December 2005.
Notices
• Notice of meeting: Publication in the BALO of 25 March
(n°36)
• Notice of meeting: Publication in Les Petites Affiches of 13
April 2005
• Voting rights at the AGM of 28 April 2005: Publication in
the BALO of 4 May 2005 (n°53)
• Notice of meeting: Publication in the BALO of 22 March
2006 (n° 35)
Operations
• 8 April 2005: Notice of share buyback programme, visa 050241
Declarations
• January 2005 – February 2005: monthly declarations of
treasury share buyback and disposals
Reference document
• 14 April 2005: AMF submission n° 05-0428
Annual Report 2005
Financial accounts
This document will be posted on the AMF website and includes the following information:
Other press releases
• 11 April 2005: summary of the information memo relating
to the share buyback programme
• 13 July 2005: liquidity contract half-year report
• 7 October 2005: M6 becomes the first free to air TV channel in the number of 2006 World Cup matches broadcast
• 15 November 2005: M6 Group makes the acquisition of
Mistergooddeal.com through its HSS subsidiary
• 11 December 2005: VU – TF1 – M6: pay TV agreement
project
• 16 December 2005: VU – TF1 – M6: pay TV combination
project
Financial Report
In accordance with Article 221-1-1 of the AMF General Regulations, M6 - Métropole Télévision, a company listed on compartment A of Eurolist, has prepared an information document
listing all information published or disclosed to the public over
the past 12 months in France, in order to comply with its legal
or regulatory obligations in terms of financial instruments, financial instrument issuers and financial instrument markets.
Legal Information
18. Annual information documenti
Management Report
121
19. Other informationi
Other management report information is disclosed in the “Legal
Information” section of the financial report, with respect in particular to the presentation of resolutions (please refer to the
Reconciliation table at the end of the document).
Financial Report
Legal Information
Financial accounts
Management Report
122
Annual Report 2005
B. Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements IFRS 2005 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Transition to IFRS
Reconciliation of 2004 Consolidated Income Statement
Reconciliation of Consolidated Balance Sheet at 31/12/2004
Reconciliation Consolidated Cash Flow Statement at 31/12/2004
Statutory Auditors’ Report on the Consolidated Financial Statements
C. Parent Company Financial Statements at 31 December 2005 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
I. Balance Sheet
II. Income Statement
III. Cash Flow Statement
D. Notes to the Parent Company Financial Statements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
Statutory Auditors’ Report on the Parent Company Financial Statements
Statutory Auditors’ Report on Regulated Agreements
Annual report 2005
Financial accounts
Legal Information
A. Consolidated financial statements at 31 december 2005 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
I. Balance Sheet
II. Income Statement
III. Cash Flow Statement
IV. Equity
Financial Report
Financial
Accounts
Management Report
123
124
Financial Report
Legal Information
I. - Consolidated Balance Sheet (€ millions)
Assets
Consolidated Financial Statements
Financial accounts
Management Report
A. 2005 consolidated financial statements
Goodwill
Audiovisual rights
Commercial rights
Other intangible assets
Advances and deposits on non-current assets
INTANGIBLE ASSETS
Land
Buildings
Technical facilities
Other property, facilities & equipment
Assets under construction
PROPERTY, FACILITIES & EQUIPMENT
Available-for-sale financial assets
Other non-current financial assets
FINANCIAL ASSETS
Deferred tax assets
Note N°
13
12
12/31/2005
61.3
62.9
0.2
14.7
30.3
169.4
12/31/2004 NOTE B
114.6
41.1
0.6
22.9
29.4
208.6
11
7.8
36.1
10.9
6.4
0.6
61.8
7.8
37.0
8.6
31.7
1.7
86.8
14
15
0.3
6.3
6.6
8.2
7.7
16.0
7
30.1
31.4
267.9
342.8
21
115.7
21.1
244.4
295.6
0.5
0.2
243.1
109.5
8.7
237.1
296.3
29.2
211.5
8
920.6
201.8
892.3
-
1,390.3
1,235.1
TOTAL NON-CURRENT ASSETS
Broadcast rights inventory
Other inventories
Trade receivables
Other current assets
Derivative financial instruments
Current financial assets
Cash and cash equivalents
TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS
Assets used in discontinuing operations
TOTAL ASSETS
19
19
20
20
15
Annual report 2005
12/31/2004 NOTE B
52.8
24.2
(59.4)
299.4
(4.5)
128.8
441.3
(0.4)
440.9
Minority Interest
EQUITY
22
0.2
504.3
Provisions for liabilities and charges
Financial liabilities
Leases
Other non-current liabilities
Liabilities relating to non-current assets
Deferred tax liabilities
18
23
23
25
25
7
9.1
5.1
7.8
5.4
17.4
5.7
6.4
40.4
6.2
TOTAL NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES
Provisions for liabilities and charges
Financial liabilities
Derivative financial instruments
Leases
Trade payables
Tax and social security payables
Other current liabilities
Liabilities relating to current assets
24
23
23
23
25
25
25
25
27.4
56.3
1.7
296.4
209.4
54.6
20.9
76.2
63.2
29.2
5.9
3.9
308.7
201.1
77.2
28.8
639.3
718.0
219.3
-
1,390.3
1,235.1
TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES
Liabilities relating to discontinuing operations
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Annual report 2005
8
Legal Information
12/31/2005
52.8
24.2
(23.0)
294.0
(0.1)
156.2
504.1
Financial Report
Note N°
Share capital
Share premium
Treasury shares
Reserves
Other reserves
Net profit for the year (Group share)
GROUP EQUITY
Consolidated Financial Statements
Liabilities and equity
Financial accounts
Management Report
125
126
Legal Information
Continuing
operations
12/31/2005
Discontinuing
operations
Total
Continuing
operations
12/31/2004
Discontinuing
operations
1,079.9
50.8
1,130.7
194.8
1.3
196.1
1,274.7
52.1
1,326.8
1,012.2
53.2
1,065.4
185.4
2.6
188.0
NOTE A
1,197.6
55.8
1,253.4
(628.5)
(161.9)
(51.4)
(67.8)
(0.8)
13.3
(897.1)
233.6
(154.8)
(19.8)
(3.0)
(9.8)
(187.4)
8.7
(783.3)
(181.7)
(54.4)
(77.6)
(0.8)
13.3
(1,084.5)
242.3
(580.6)
(149.7)
(52.0)
(71.7)
(3.6)
(857.6)
207.8
(157.7)
(16.8)
(2.6)
(10.3)
(187.4)
0.6
(738.3)
(166.5)
(54.6)
(82.0)
(3.6)
(1,045.0)
208.4
6.5/6.6
5.3
(0.3)
0.2
(2.5)
2.7
(2.0)
1.4
(0.3)
(0.9)
5.3
(2.3)
1.6
(2.8)
1.8
4.4
0.0
(1.1)
0.7
4.0
(0.4)
(1.4)
(1.4)
(0.7)
(3.9)
4.0
(1.4)
(2.5)
0.1
7
236.3
(85.1)
7.8
(2.7)
244.1
(87.8)
(0.6)
211.2
(80.8)
(3.3)
1.2
(0.6)
207.9
(79.6)
151.2
(0.1)
5.1
-
156.3
(0.1)
130.4
0.5
(2.1)
-
128.3
0.5
Net profit (Group share)
151.1
5.1
156.2
130.9
(2.1)
128.8
Number of shares in circulation (thousands)
Earnings per share - basic (€)
Earnings per share - basic (€) (Group share)
Earnings per share - diluted (€)
131,043
1.153
1.153
1.149
0.039
0.039
0.039
131,043
1.192
1.192
1.188
130,678
0.998
1.001
0.987
(0.016)
(0.016)
(0.016)
130,678
0.982
0.985
0.971
Note N°
Turnover
Other income from ordinary activities
Total revenues from ordinary activities
Consolidated Financial Statements
Financial accounts
Management Report
II. Consolidated Income Statement (€ millions)
Materials and service purchases
Personnel costs (including profit sharing plan contributions)
Taxes and duties
Net depreciation/amortisation/provision charges
Impairment of unamortised intangible assets
Profit on asset disposals
Total operating expenses
Profit from operations
Financial income
Interest expenses
Revaluation of derivative financial instruments
Other financial expenses
Net financial income
Share of associates results
Profit before tax
Income tax
Financial Report
Profit before minority interest
Minority interest
6.1
6.2
6.4
6.3
6.3
Total
Annual report 2005
127
NET MOVEMENT IN WORKING CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS
(38.9)
17.9
Income tax paid
(75.4)
(107.5)
Relating to discontinuing operations
210.5
16.2
196.4
44.5
Intangible assets acquisitions
Property, facilities and equipment acquisitions
Investments acquisitions
Acquisitions related borrowings
Cash and cash equivalents arising from subsidiary acquisitions
Cash and cash equivalents arising from subsidiary disposals
Disposals of intangible assets and property, facilities and equipment
Disposals/reductions in investments
(79.3)
(17.6)
(1.6)
6.7
(48.7)
5.0
13.2
1.4
(67.2)
(17.9)
(0.7)
(2.7)
(20.7)
8.2
0.2
(120.9)
(12.4)
(100.8)
(8.8)
44.2
(0.4)
10.2
(110.0)
(56.0)
(3.4)
4.0
(35.8)
4.7
(86.2)
(113.3)
(35.7)
Relating to discontinuing operations
33.6
0.4
(17.7)
-
Relating to discontinuing operations
211.5
1.6
229.2
1.6
245.1
211.5
243.1
2.0
209.9
1.6
Inventories
Trade receivables
Operating liabilities
CASH FLOW FROM OPERATIONS
Short-term investing activities
NET CASH USED IN SHORT-TERM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Relating to discontinuing operations
Share capital increases
Current financial assets
Financial liabilities
Purchase/disposal of treasury shares
Dividends paid to parent company
Dividends paid to minority interest
NET CASH USED IN FINANCING AND LONG-TERM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Relating to discontinuing operations
Financing and long-term investing activities
NET CHANGE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
Cash and cash equivalents - start of year
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS - END OF YEAR
Cash and cash equivalents relating to continuing operations
Cash and cash equivalents relating to discontinuing operations
Annual report 2005
Financial accounts
(9.4)
22.8
4.5
Movements in working capital requirements
Legal Information
(33.4)
(63.4)
57.9
Profit from operations
Depreciation and amortisation
Gains and losses on disposals
Income generated by cash balances
Interest paid
Other non-cash items
SELF-FINANCING CAPABILITY (BEFORE TAX)
Financial Report
242.3
101.8
(26.1)
5.1
(2.3)
4.0
324.8
31/12/2004
NOTE C
208.4
77.6
(5.1)
4.0
(1.4)
2.5
286.0
Consolidated Financial Statements
31/12/2005
Management Report
III. - Consolidated Cash Flow Statement (€ millions)
128
Consolidated Financial Statements
Balance at 1 January 2004
Changes in consolidating company’s equity
Net profit (Group shares)
Dividends
Change in value of derivative instruments
Stocks options
Treasury shares
Other movements
Share
capital
52.8
Share
premiums
24.2
Treasury
shares
(64.1)
Consolidated
reserves
384.6
Group net
profit
-
Other
reserves (*)
(4.3)
128.8
(87.6)
(0.2)
2.4
4.7
Balance at 31 December 2004
Changes in consolidating company’s equity
Net profit (Group shares)
2004 net profit allocation
Dividends
Change in value of derivative instruments
Stocks options
Treasury shares
Other movements
52.8
Balance at 31 December 2005
52.8
24.2
(59.4)
36.4
24.2
(23.0)
299.4
128.8
(110.0)
(1.6)
4.0
(26.2)
(0.4)
294.0
128.8
(4.5)
156.2
(128.8)
4.4
156.2
(0.1)
Group
Equity
393.2
128.8
(87.6)
(0.2)
2.4
4.7
-
Minority
Interest
(1.2)
(0.5)
1.3
Equity
392.0
128.3
(87.6)
(0.2)
2.4
4.7
1.3
441.3
156.2
(110.0)
2.8
4.0
10.2
(0.4)
(0.4)
0.1
0.4
0.1
440.9
156.3
(109.6)
2.8
4.0
10.2
(0.3)
504.1
0.2
504.3
(*) including financial instruments fair value differences
Financial Report
Legal Information
Financial accounts
Management Report
IV. IFRS Equity
(€ millions)
Annual report 2005
129
M6 Group is a public limited company with a Management
Board and a Supervisory Board, registered at 89 avenue Charles de Gaulle, Neuilly sur Seine in France. The Company is
fully consolidated into the RTL Group, which stock is quoted
in Brussels and Luxembourg.
These consolidated financial statements are presented with
comparative figures for 2004 established under the same framework as applicable at 31 December 2005.
The principles applied for the establishment of these financial
statements result in the application of:
• all obligatory standards and interpretations adopted by the
European Union at 31 December 2005 ;
• options retained and exemptions used.
The opening balance sheet at 1 January 2004 has been established in accordance with the provisions of IFRS 1. The options
retained for the first-time application of international accounting standards at 1 January 2004, in addition to the nature
and effect of changes to accounting methods and principles
Annual report 2005
Application of standards, amendments to
standards and interpretations of standards in
advance of their obligatory application date
Despite obligatory application commencing from 1 January
2005, the M6 Group has chosen to apply IAS 39 Financial
Instruments: Recognition and Measurement and IAS 32 Financial Instruments: Disclosures and Presentation from 1 January
2004.
Furthermore, the Group has chosen not to apply in advance
any standards, amendments to standards or interpretations,
for which the date of obligatory application is later than 31
December 2005. The Group could be affected by:
- IAS 19: Actuarial gains and losses, group plans and disclosure (amendment becoming obligatory from 1 January
2006);
- IAS 39: the Fair Value Option (amendment becoming obligatory from 1 January 2006);
- IAS 39: Cash flow hedge accounting of forecast transactions (amendment becoming obligatory from 1 January
2006);
Financial accounts
The consolidated financial statements at 31 December 2005
are the first financial statements to be presented in accordance with IFRS (International Financial Reporting Standards)
as adopted by the European Union.
International accounting standards comprise IFRS, (International Financial Reporting Standards) and IAS (International
Accounting Standards), in addition to their interpretations (SIC
and IFRIC).
on the opening balance sheet under French GAAP, were presented in the annual report for the 2004 financial reporting
period. Some modifications have been made, which are detailed in note 30.
Legal Information
The M6 Group consolidated financial statements at 31 December 2005 were approved by the Management Board on 6
March 2006 and considered by the Supervisory Board on 7
March 2006. They will be submitted for approval to the next
Annual General Meeting on 24 April 2006.
2.1. Accounting frameworkt
Financial Report
1. Companyt
informationt
2. Basis of preparation and presentationt
of the consolidated financial statementst
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements IFRS
Unless otherwise mentioned, the amounts presented in the
notes are expressed in millions of Euros
Management Report
B. Notes to the 2005 consolidated financial statements
130
Financial Report
The M6 Group is currently in the process of analysing the
effects of these new requirements.
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements IFRS
Legal Information
Financial accounts
Management Report
- IFRS 7: Financial Instruments disclosure (becoming obligatory from 1 January 2007);
- IAS 1: Presentation of financial statements capital disclosure (becoming obligatory from 1 January 2007).
Options available and used by M6 Group in
relation to the International accounting
framework
Some of the international accounting standards allow options
in relating to the valuation and accounting treatment of assets
and liabilities. The options utilised by the Group are detailed
in note 2.5.
Furthermore, IFRS 1 First-time adoption of IFRS, relating to
the first-time application of the international reporting framework, allows options in respect of the retrospective application of IFRS at the date of transition (1 January 2004 for the
Group). The options retained by the Group for the preparation
of its opening balance sheet are detailed in note 30.
2.2. Preparation principlest
The consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with the historical cost convention, with the exception
of derivative instruments and financial assets available for sale,
which are accounted for at fair value.
Financial liabilities are valued at amortised cost. The accounting values of assets and liabilities recognized on the balance
sheet and which are subject to a Fair Value Hedge are adjusted to recognize variations in the fair value of the hedged risks.
2.3. Use of estimates andt
assumptionst
In order to prepare the consolidated financial statements in
compliance with IFRS, the M6 Group Management Board
had to carry out estimates and make assumptions which
affect the amounts presented as assets and liabilities on
the consolidated balance sheet, the information provided
on assets and contingent liabilities at the time of preparing
this financial information, as well as the income and expenses recognised in the income statement.
The Management Board continually reviews its estimates
and assumptions, taking into account past experience as
well as various other factors that it deems reasonable and
which constitute the basis of its assumptions with regard
to the accounting value of composites of assets and liabilities.
Subsequent actual results may differ noticeably from these
estimates based on variations in assumptions or conditions.
• The valuation of retirement benefits, the methods of which
are detailed in note 18.
• Valuation of commercial discounts (note 3.17).
2.4. Presentation principlest
Presentation of the income statement
The Group has presented the income statement based on
nature, as permitted by IAS 1 Presentation of Financial Statements.
Operating profit is equal to consolidated net profit after having
taken into account:
• finance income
• finance costs
• tax expenses charge
• share of profit of associates
• net income of discontinuing activities.
Discontinued or discontinuing activities are presented in a
separate column in the income statement.
The main items affected by estimates and assumptions are:
• The valuation and recoverable value of goodwill and intangible assets such as audiovisual rights and the acquisition
cost of sports club players; the estimation of the recoverable value of these assets effectively rests on the determination of cash flows resulting from their use or the known
market value of the assets. It could turn out that the cash
flows actually realised from these assets differs significantly
from initial projections. In the same manner, the market value
of assets, particularly sports club players, can evolve and
differ from the previously recognized values.
Current/non-current classification
In compliance with IAS 1, M6 Group presents current and noncurrent assets and liabilities separately on the balance sheet.
In terms of the M6 Group operations, this classification is based
upon the timescale in which the asset will be realized or the
liability settled: current when this is within the operating cycle
and non-current if longer.
Annual report 2005
131
Finally, in the absence of standards or interpretations applicable to a specific transaction, the Group Management Board
applies its judgment to define and apply the accounting treatment which allows the presentation of relevant and reliable
information, such that the financial statements are:
• a fair presentation of the Group financial position,
performance and cash flows;
• representative of the economic reality of transactions;
• transparent;
• prudent;
• complete in all significant aspects.
Annual report 2005
Jointly controlled entities
Jointly controlled companies are proportionally consolidated, in
compliance with IAS 31 Financial Reporting of Interests in Joint
Ventures (Joint control is the shared control of a single entity
by a limited number of associates or shareholders, from whose
agreement financial and operational decisions are made).
Under this method, the Group includes its proportion of assets,
liabilities, income and expenses under the appropriate headings
in the consolidated financial statements.
Associated companies
Companies over which M6 Group exercises significant influence
are equity accounted. Significant influence is presumed when
the percentage of voting rights is above or equal to 20%. Under
this method, the Group accounts for its share of net assets of
the associate on the balance sheet and records a specific line
Transactions eliminated on consolidation
All intercompany transactions and balances between consolidated companies have been eliminated. In the case of companies consolidated under the proportional consolidation method,
the intercompany transactions are eliminated to the extent of
the Group’s ownership level in these companies.
The existence and effect of potential or convertible voting rights
at the balance sheet date is taken into consideration when
determining whether control or significant influence is held over
the entity.
In compliance with IFRS 5, assets and liabilities of controlled
entities, considered to be held with a view to resale are presented on separate lines in the balance sheet. Furthermore, net
income from discontinuing operations is presented in a separate column in 2004 and 2005.
Management Report
Financial accounts
• the method of accounting for inventory at its initial cost;
• the valuation at historic cost of tangible and intangible
assets, without revaluation at each balance sheet date;
• the proportional consolidation of jointly controlled entities,
as permitted by IAS 31 Interests in Joint Ventures.
Subsidiaries
Companies exclusively controlled by M6 Group, are fully consolidated. Acquisitions or disposals of companies during an accounting period are taken into account in the consolidated financial
statements from the date of taking of control of until the date
of effective loss of control. The full consolidation method implemented is that, under which the assets, liabilities, income and
expenses are completely integrated. The proportion of net assets
and net profit attributable to minority interests is presented separately as minority interest in shareholders’ equity in the consolidated balance sheet and in the consolidated income statement
item in the consolidated income statement entitled "Share of
associated companies" including its share of the net income of
the entity consolidated using the equity method
Legal Information
Within this framework, the Group has retained the following:
3.1. Consolidation Scopet
The effect on the balance sheet and income statement corresponds to the consolidated financial statements of discontinuing
operations, and the elimination of intra-group transactions of
continuing operations concerning discontinuing operations.
All consolidated companies have a year end of 31 December.
Financial Report
Some of the international accounting standards make provision for options as concerns the valuation of and accounting
for assets and liabilities.
3. Accounting principles, rules & methodst
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements IFRS
2.5. Options retained int
relation to the valuation t
of and accounting fort
assets and liabilities t
Financial Report
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements IFRS
Legal Information
Financial accounts
Management Report
132
M6 Scope
Company
Legal Form
Nature of operations
31/12/2005
% share
capital
Method
31/12/2004
% share
capital
Method
ANTENNE M6
Métropole Télévision - M6
M6 Publicité
M6 Bordeaux
M6 Toulouse
Immobilière M6
SCI du 107
C. Productions
M6 Films
Métropole Production
Studio 89 Productions
W9 Production
Labo Productions
M6 Création
M6 Opération
SA
SAS
SAS
SAS
SA
SCI
SA
SA
SA
SAS
SAS
SARL
SAS
SAS
Parent company
Advertising agency
Local TV Station
Local TV Station
Neuilly Buildings
Neuilly Buildings
Programme Production
Co-production of Films
Production of audiovisual programming
Production of audiovisual programmes
Production of audiovisual programmes
Programme Production
Dormant Company
Dormant Company
100.00%
100.00%
100.00%
100.00%
100.00%
100.00%
100.00%
100.00%
100.00%
100.00%
100.00%
100.00%
100.00%
FC
FC
FC
FC
FC
FC
FC
FC
FC
FC
FC
FC
FC
FC
100.00%
100.00%
100.00%
100.00%
100.00%
100.00%
100.00%
100.00%
100.00%
100.00%
-
FC
FC
FC
FC
FC
FC
FC
FC
FC
FC
FC
NC
NC
NC
DIGITAL CHANNELS
Edi TV - W9
Fun TV
M6 Diffusion
M6 Numérique
M6 Thématique
Paris Première
Sedi TV - Téva
M6 Communication
Multiplex R4
Série Club
TF6
TF6 Gestion
SNC
SNC
SA
SNC
SA
SA
SNC
SAS
SAS
SA
SCS
SA
W9 Music Channel
Fun TV Music Channel
Holding Company - digital operations
Holding Company - digital operations
Holding Company - digital channels
Paris Première digital channel
Téva digital channel
M6 Music channels Black - Rock - Hit
Television and Radio programmes broadcast
Série Club digital channel
TF6 digital channel
TF6 Management company
100.00%
100.00%
100.00%
100.00%
100.00%
100.00%
51.00%
100.00%
58.35%
50.00%
50.00%
50.00%
FC
FC
FC
FC
FC
FC
FC
FC
FC
PC
PC
PC
100.00%
100.00%
100.00%
100.00%
100.00%
100.00%
51.00%
50.00%
50.00%
50.00%
FC
FC
FC
FC
FC
FC
FC
NC
NC
PC
PC
PC
100.00%
100.00%
90.00%
100.00%
80.00%
100.00%
100.00%
100.00%
100.00%
FC
FC
FC
FC
FC
FC
FC
FC
FC
100.00%
100.00%
90.00%
100.00%
100.00%
100.00%
100.00%
100.00%
FC
FC
FC
FC
NC
FC
FC
FC
FC
DIVERSIFICATION AND AUDIOVISUAL RIGHTS
FC Girondins de Bordeaux
SASP
Football Club
M6 Foot
SAS
Holding Company - Sports
Culture Mag Editions
SNC
Print Magazine Edition
M6 Editions
SA
Print publications
Citato
SARL
Print Magazine Edition
Live Stage
SAS
Staging of shows and events
M6 Evénements
SA
Staging of shows and events
M6 Interactions
SAS
By-product rights exploitation
M6 Web
SAS
Internet content and access provider
Annual report 2005
133
SA
SNC
SNC
SA
SA
GIE
SA
SA
SA
SA
SA
SARL
GMBH
SA
SA
SAS
SAS
SA
SAS
SNC
Home shopping programmes
Home shopping programmes
24-hour channel
Home shopping programmes
Home shopping programmes
Home shopping centre
Production of audiovisual programmes
Home shopping programmes
Acquisition and broadcast of home shopping
Customer services
Management and promotion of home shopping
Travel sales
Production and broadcast of home shopping
E-commerce
Audiovisual rights portfolio
Production of animated feature films
Audiovisual rights portfolio
Distribution of films to movie theaters
Audiovisual rights portfolio
Broadcast rights portfolio
100.00%
100.00%
100.00%
100.00%
100.00%
100.00%
100.00%
100.00%
100.00%
100.00%
100.00%
95.00%
100.00%
100.00%
100.00%
100.00%
50.00%
DISCONTINUING OPERATIONS
Sub-group TPS :
TPS
SNC
Multivision
SNC
TPS Cinéma
SNC
TPS Cinéstar
SNC
Panoramic Presse TPS
SNC
TPS Foot
SNC
TPS Interactif
SNC
TPS Jeunesse
SNC
TPS Motivation
SA
TPS Sport
SNC
TPS Terminaux
SNC
TPS Cinéfaz
SNC
TPS Cinétoile
SNC
Annual report 2005
Broadcaster of digital channels
Pay per view digital channel
Movies digital channel
Movies digital channel
Communication projects
Sports digital channel
Production and commercialisation of services
Youth digital channel
Marketable Securities Management
Sports digital channel
Management of Equipment
Movies digital channel
Movies digital channel
FC
FC
FC
FC
FC
FC
FC
FC
FC
FC
FC
FC
FC
NC
NC
FC
NC
FC
FC
FC
FC
PC
100.00%
100.00%
100.00%
100.00%
100.00%
100.00%
100.00%
100.00%
100.00%
100.00%
100.00%
50.00%
20.00%
100.00%
100.00%
100.00%
100.00%
50.00%
Method
Management Report
Dormant Company
Dormant Company
31/12/2004
% share
capital
-
Method
NC
NC
FC
FC
FC
FC
FC
FC
FC
FC
FC
FC
FC
PC
EA
NC
FC
FC
FC
FC
NC
PC
Financial accounts
SAS
SAS
31/12/2005
% share
capital
100.00%
100.00%
Legal Information
Nature of operations
Financial Report
M6 Développement
M6 Affaires
Sub-group HSS :
Home Shopping Service
Boutique du Monde
Club Téléachat
HSS Belgique
HSS Hongrie
SETV Belgique
Tecipress
Télévente promotion
TV Store
Unité 15 Belgique
Unité 15 France
Home Travel Services
RTL Shop
Mistergooddeal.com
M6 Droits Audiovisuels
M6 Studio
Mandarin
Sté Nelle de Distribution
Société Nouvelle de Cinématographie
TCM DA
legal Form
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements IFRS
M6 Scope
Company
134
Financial Report
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements IFRS
Legal Information
Financial accounts
Management Report
FC:
PC
EA:
NC:
Full consolidation
Proportional consolidation
Equity accounted
Not consolidated
In application of IAS 27, Consolidated Financial Statements
and Accounting for Investments in Subsidiaries, the Group has
brought into the scope of consolidation, companies of which
more than 20% is held which have not previously been consolidated. The operations of these companies are not significant
or even zero, as concerns holding companies and dormant
companies.
The Group is not on the other hand, a shareholder or participating stakeholder party in any special purpose entities.
The scope of consolidation evolved in 2005 with the acquisition
of SNC (Société Nouvelle de Cinématographie), Citato and
Mistergooddeal.com, the disposal of RTL Shop and Home Travel
Services and the merger of M6 DA into SND (see: note 4).
Following an industry combination project announced on 16
December 2005 and signed on 6 January 2006, between
TPS and Canal+ Group, regarding pay TV and in application
of IFRS 5, Non current assets held for sale and discontinued
operations, TPS, formally consolidated under proportional
consolidation in recognition of the joint control exercised by
the Group and TF1 by virtue of a shareholders’ agreement in
2002, has been treated in 2005 as an asset held for disposal and thus is subject to specific disclosure.
3.2. Translation of financialt
statements of consolidatedt
foreign entitiest
The presentation currency of the consolidated financial statements is the Euro. All foreign subsidiaries have the Euro as
their functional currency.
3.3. Foreign currencyt
transactionst
Foreign currency transactions are initially recorded in the functional currency (Euro) using the exchange rate prevailing at
the date of the transaction, in application of IAS 21, The Effects
of Changes in Foreign Exchange Rates.
At the balance sheet date, monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are converted into the functional currency at the exchange rate prevailing at the balance
sheet date. All differences are recorded in the income statement. Non-monetary items in foreign currencies which are
valued at historic cost, are converted at the exchange rate at
the initial date of the transaction.
Exchange differences resulting from the conversion of assets
and liabilities denominated in foreign currency arising from
commercial transactions, are accounted for in operating profit, for financial transactions, these same differences are accounted for in finance income and expense.
The treatment of foreign exchange hedges is detailed in note
3.16.
3.4. Goodwillt
Goodwill represents the difference between the acquisition
price, plus related expenses, of the shares of consolidated
entities and the Group share of the fair value of their net assets
at the date of investment. The evaluation period for this fair
value may be up to 12 months following the acquisition. When
the acquisition price, together with by related expenses, is less
than the fair value of the identified assets and liabilities acquired, the difference is immediately recognised in the income
statement.
Once allocated to each of the Cash Generating Units, goodwill is not amortised. It is subject to impairment tests from the
point of indications of impairment, and as a minimum, once a
year (see: note 13).
The Group has decided to retain the option offered by IFRS 1,
First-time Adoption of IFRS (see: note 30) not to restate business combinations prior to 1 January 2004, which do not comply with the recommendations of IFRS 3, Business Combinations, as the first-time application of IFRS accounting standards
is not intended to modify accounting policies used in the past.
Goodwill recorded prior to 1 January 2004 has been frozen
at its net accounting value at this date and will no longer by
amortised, complying with IFRS, from this date.
Annual report 2005
135
Audiovisual rights
Audiovisual rights, comprising rights to films for movie theatre distribution, as well as television and videographic rights,
purchased with or without a minimum guarantee, in view of
their commercialisation (distribution, trading), are classified as
an intangible asset in conformity with IAS 38, Intangible assets.
The method of amortisation of an asset should reflect the pattern according to which the benefits generated by the asset
are consumed. That is why audiovisual rights:
• are amortised according to the pattern of revenues generated, compared to the total estimated revenues, and as a
minimum are amortised over the life of the contract, subject to the following limits:
- 3 years if the company is a distributor of these rights,
- 5 years if the company is a dealer in these rights.
Annual report 2005
Depreciation
Depreciation is calculated in line with the pattern of consumption of the expected economic benefits of each individual asset,
based on its acquisition cost and, should the case arise, its
residual value. A residual value is recognised only when determinable with sufficient certainty.
Acquisition cost of sports club players
In application of IAS 38, Intangible Assets, purchases of sports
club players are capitalised as intangible assets at their acquisition cost and are amortised over the length of their contracts.
The net value is re-assessed at each balance sheet date, in
compliance with IAS 36, Impairment of Assets (see: note 3.7).
Computer software
Computer software purchased or internally developed is reported at acquisition or production cost and amortised on a straightline basis over one their period of use, which does not exceed
four years.
The straight-line method is applied over the following useful
lives:
• Buildings
• General-purpose facilities, office furniture
• Satellite Set-Top Boxes
• Computer hardware
• Office and technical equipment
25 years
10 years
5 years
4 years
3 to 5 years
The useful economic lives of property, facilities and equipment
are reviewed annually and may be modified in the future, according to the circumstances.
Management Report
Financial accounts
Advances and payments on account comprise:
- unused audiovisual rights which a view to their exploitation,
- co-production rights awaiting receipt of technical acceptance
or exploitation visa.
Co-production costs are also capitalised as other intangible
assets and are amortised on the basis of their receipts or
straight-line over three years where their future receipts are
insufficient.
In application of IAS 20, Accounting for Government Grants
and Disclosure of Government Assistance, grants received
from the Centre National de Cinématographie (CNC) are
accounted for as a reduction in the acquisition cost of financed co-production assets, and are subsequently accounted
for in profit according to the pattern of consumption of the
expected economic benefits of the co-productions as previously defined.
Property, facilities and equipment are recorded at their acquisition cost, reduced by accumulated depreciation and impairment provisions, according to the treatment specified by IAS
16, Property, Plant & Equipment. This cost included costs
directly attributable to the transfer of the asset to its place of
operation and its adaptation to operate in the manner anticipated by management.
Legal Information
Advances and payments on account
Co-production share of drama and feature film
and other costs
3.6. Property, facilities andt
equipmentt
Financial Report
Intangible assets principally comprise:
- advances and payments on account for non-current assets
- audiovisual rights held for commercialisation by companies
with such a mandate,
- co-production share of drama and feature film and other costs,
- acquisition costs of sports club players,
- computer software.
• are subject to an impairment test, which could lead to the
recognition of an impairment should the accounting value
of the right exceed its recoverable value.
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements IFRS
3.5. Intangible assetst
136
Property, facilities and equipment is subject to impairment tests
when indications of a loss of value are identified. Should this
be the case, an impairment charge is recorded in the income
statement under the caption “Amortisation and Provision Charges (net of reversals)”.
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements IFRS
Legal Information
Financial accounts
Management Report
Impairments
Finance leases
Assets acquired through finance leases, are capitalised when
the risks and rewards of ownership of these assets have effectively been transferred to the Group. They are recorded on the
balance sheet at the lower of their fair value and the discounted value of minimum lease payments, reduced by accumulated depreciation and impairment. These assets are depreciated over their estimated useful lives.
Leases for which the risks and rewards are not transferred to
the Group are classed as operating leases. Operating lease
payments are accounted for as expenses on a straight-line
basis over the duration of the lease.
3.7. Impairment of Assetst
flows largely independent of those generated by other assets
or groups of assets. In this instance, the recoverable value of
the Cash Generating Unit, to which the asset belongs, is determined.
A Cash Generating Unit (CGU) is the smallest group of assets,
which includes the asset, and which generates cash flows, largely independently of other assets or groups of assets.
For sports club players, in particular, the recoverable value of
these intangible assets is tested separately, player by player,
and at the level of the global strength of players in Ligue
1(French Football League).
Goodwill and intangible assets to which it is not possible to
directly match independent cash flows, are grouped together,
at the time they are first recorded, into the Cash Generating
Unit to which they belong.
Impairment is recognised when, as a result of specific events
or circumstances arising during the period (internal or external), the recoverable value of the asset or group of assets falls
below its accounting value.
potential development of the markets in which the entity
concerned operates, as well as the competitive position held
by the entity within these markets.
• the discount rate applied to the cash flows is determined
using the rates which are most appropriate to the nature of
the operations and the country. It takes into account the
time value of money and risks specific to the CGU for which
cash flows have not been adjusted.
When the recoverable value of a Cash Generating Unit including goodwill falls below its accounting value the impairment
recorded is first applied to goodwill. The impairment of goodwill is recorded in the income statement as “Impairment of
unamortised assets”.
3.8. Financial assetst
available for sale,t
other financial assets t
and financial liabilitiest
The recoverable value is the higher of fair value, net of disposal costs, and value in use.
Financial assets
Financial Report
According to IAS 36, Impairment of Assets, the recoverable
value of intangible assets and property, facilities and equipment is tested at the appearance of indications of impairment.
The recoverable value of unamortised intangible assets is tested at the appearance of indications of impairment, and as a
minimum once a year.
The recoverable value is determined on an asset by asset
basis, unless the asset in question does not generate cash
The value in use retained by the Group corresponds to the
discounted cash flows of the CGU, including goodwill, and is
determined within the framework of the economic assumptions and operating conditions as provisionally established by
the M6 Management Board in the following manner:
• future cash flows stem from the medium term budget (5
years) drawn up by the Management Board,
• beyond this timescale, the cash flows are extrapolated by
application of a perpetual growth rate appropriate to the
Financial assets fall within the scope of IAS 39, Financial Instruments : Recognition and Measurement and are classified
into one of the four following categories :
• Financial assets valued at fair value through the income
statement;
• Loans and receivables;
• Held to maturity investments (obligations);
• Available for sale financial assets.
Annual report 2005
Held to maturity investments are non-derivative financial assets,
with fixed or determinable payments and a fixed maturity, which
the entity has the explicit intention and the ability to hold until
their maturity.
Recognition
Shares in non-consolidated entities belong to this category.
They are initially recorded at fair value, corresponding to the
cost of acquisition at the date of acquisition, and are then revalued to fair value at each balance sheet date.
Financial liabilities
Financial liabilities are classified into two main categories:
• Financial liabilities valued at fair value through the income
statement
• Other financial liabilities
Financial liabilities valued at fair value through the income statement result in the realisation of profit due to short-term variations in price. This applies only to liabilities resulting from sales
Annual report 2005
After initial recognition, an entity must measure its financial
assets and liabilities in the following manner:
Valuation at fair value (FV)
Changes in FV
Changes in FV
through P & L
through equity
Assets
Loans and receivables
Investments held to maturity
At fair value through profit or loss
Available for sale
Liabilities
At fair value through profit or loss
Others
Derivatives (incl. embedded derivatives)
Valuation at
amortised cost
Depreciation
(at closing date)
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
(if cash flow hedge)
Financial Report
Available-for-sale assets are non-derivative financial assets
designated as available for sale which do not belong to any
of the three preceding categories.
Following the initial recognition of a financial asset or liability,
an entity must value it at fair value with transaction costs directly
attributable to the acquisition or provision of the financial asset
or liability, with the exception of financial assets and liabilities
valued at fair value through the income statement.
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements IFRS
Loans and receivables are non-derivative financial assets with
fixed or determinable payments, which are not listed on an
active market.
Other financial liabilities are valued at amortised cost, with the
exception of derivative financial instruments which are valued
at fair value.
Financial accounts
to acquire shares or other financial assets or derivatives which
are not hedge derivatives.
Legal Information
Financial assets valued at fair value through the income statement are those which have been so designated from origin
or financial assets held for trading.
Marketable securities which do not qualify as cash equivalents, in addition to derivatives (excluding hedges) belong to
this asset category.
Management Report
137
138
Financial Report
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements IFRS
Legal Information
Financial accounts
Management Report
In the case of cash flow hedge derivative financial instruments,
the variation in fair value of the ineffective portion of the hedge
is recorded in profit.
The following assets are subject to an impairment test at each
closing:
• Loans and debt issued by the entity and assets held to
maturity:
If there is an objective indication of impairment of an asset,
the entity must assess the recoverable value of the asset.
The impairment is the difference between the amount recognised on the balance sheet in respect of the asset and its
recoverable amount (discounted estimated future cash
flows). The impairment is recognized in profit.
• Available for sale assets:
Variations in fair value are recognised as a separate line
item from equity (“Other reserves”) until the disposal of the
instruments of the recognition or a permanent impairment.
Effectively, when circumstances support the conclusion that
a permanent impairment has occurred, the reduction in value
must be recognized in profit (with no future reversal permitted).
Variations in the fair value of available for sale securities are
treated as finance expenses when it is evident that impairment in these marketable securities is irreversible.
3.9. Deferred taxest
In compliance with IAS 12, Income Taxes, deferred tax is recognised on temporary differences between the carrying amount
of assets and their tax base, as well as tax losses, according
to the liability method.
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured at the tax rate
applicable to the period during which the asset or liability will
be realised, on the basis of tax rates which have been substantively enacted by the balance sheet date.
Métropole Télévision programmes (which constitute the predominant part of the Group’s broadcast rights inventories) are
considered to be utilised when broadcast, in accordance with
the following rules :
In regard to investments in subsidiaries, joint ventures and
associates, a deferred tax liability is recognised for all temporary differences between the carrying value of the shares and
their tax base unless the Group has control at the date at which
this temporary difference (for example, a dividend distribution)
will be reversed and if it is probable that this difference will not
be reversed in the foreseeable future.
In compliance with IAS 12, deferred tax assets and liabilities
are not discounted and are offset when they belong to a single tax entity.
• Rights acquired for a single broadcast and various rights
(documentaries, concerts, sporting events…): 100% expensed on first broadcast;
• Rights acquired for multi-broadcasts:
- 1st broadcast:
67%
- 2nd broadcast:
33%
3.10. Inventoriest
Inventories are comprised of programmes, broadcast rights
and commercial inventories.
Programmes and broadcast rights
In compliance with IAS 2, programmes and broadcast rights
are recorded in inventory at the date the rights are open.
Rights which are not yet open and not yet billed are classified
as off-balance sheet commitments;
The billed portion of rights not open is recognised in advance
in prepayments and deposits.
A writedown provision is established for broadcast rights relating to programmes that are not likely to be broadcast.
Other inventories
These inventories comprise products and home shopping products relating to the brand diversification activities of the M6
Group. These inventories are valued at the lower of their acquisition cost and their net realisable value which corresponds to
the estimate sales price, net of estimated costs necessary to
realise their sale.
A writedown provision is established whenever their realisable value is less than their acquisition cost, measured on a
case by case basis (slow rotation, inventories for reimbursement, returns…).
Programmes and broadcast rights are valued at their acquisition costs, reduced each balance sheet period by the amount
consumed, as calculated according to the following models.
Annual report 2005
139
Purchases of treasury shares are recorded as a reduction to
shareholders’ equity at their purchase cost.
On the disposal of treasury shares, gains and losses are recorded in consolidated reserves, net of tax.
3.13. Share-based paymentst
In compliance with IFRS 2, Share-based payment, share purchase and subscription options carried by shares of M6 Group
or its subsidiaries, awarded to Group employees, are measured at fair value at their grant date.
Annual report 2005
The Group only has retirement benefit commitments under
defined benefit schemes.
The Group has used the projected unit credit method to measure these schemes.
In the case that this loss or liability is not probable and cannot
be reliably measured, but remains possible, the Group recognises a contingent liability in its commitments.
Provisions are predominantly intended to cover probable costs
of trials or litigation in process, of which the trigger event existed at the balance sheet date.
3.16. Derivative financialt
instrumentst
The amount carried in the balance sheet corresponds to the
discounted amount of the obligation.
The Group has applied IAS 32, Financial Instruments – Disclosures and Presentation and IAS 39, Financial Instruments
– Recognition and Measurement from 1 January 2004.
Changes resulting from periodic modifications to actuarial
assumptions relevant to the financial situation, general economy or demographic conditions (change in the discount rate,
annual increases in salaries, asset yields, longevity, etc) are
recognized in the amount of the Group’s commitment, with a
corresponding charge to the income statement spread over
the estimated average residual working life of employees.
Context of use of financial instruments
The Group is exposed to foreign exchange rate risk
principally when purchasing broadcast rights in a foreign
currency. In order to protect itself from foreign currency
exchange risk, the Group uses simple derivative instruments
guaranteeing it a covered amount and a maximum exchange
rate for this hedged amount.
Management Report
Financial accounts
In compliance with IAS 37, Provisions, Contingent Liabilities
and Contingent Assets, the Group recognises a provision when,
at the balance sheet date, it has an obligation (legal or constructive) towards a third party resulting from a past event, for which
it is probable that an outflow of resources embodying economic benefits will be required, and when a reliable estimate can
be made of the amount of the obligation.
Legal Information
3.12. Treasury sharest
3.14. Retirement benefits t
and other employee benefitst
3.15. Provisionst
Financial Report
If the maturity dates is less than one year and the effects of
discounting are not significant, receivables are measured at
cost (nominal amount of the receivable). Conversely, receivables are measured at amortised cost, using the effective rate
of interest, when their maturity date exceeds one year and the
effects of discounting are significant.
A writedown provision is calculated for each receivable as
soon as circumstances indicate the possibility that the customer may not pay the total of the receivable within the contracted terms. The amount of the provision equates to the difference between the carrying amount and the discounted value
at the initial effective interest rate (should the case arise) of
estimated future cash flows.
IFRS 2 requires the recognition of an expense (the counterpart of the entry recognized in shareholders’ equity) equal to
the fair value of the benefit granted to employees within the
framework of stock option programmes or award of free shares. This expense is recognized in employee expenses during
the period of acquisition of these rights by the beneficiaries
(between the grant date and exercise date), corresponding to
the effective duration of the award plans. The fair value of the
benefit is measured using the trinomial mathematical model.
In compliance with the requirements of IFRS 1, the Group has
only recognised the fair value of benefits awarded to employees
for plans granted after 7 November 2002, for which the rights
had not yet vested at 1 January 2005.
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements IFRS
3.11. Receivablest
140
Financial Report
Principles
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements IFRS
Legal Information
Financial accounts
Management Report
The Group’s use of derivative instruments is with the sole
aim of hedging commitments arising from its activity and
never for a speculative purpose.
Determination of fair valuet
Derivative financial instruments are measured at fair value.
The fair value of foreign currency purchase contracts is
calculated with reference to a standard forward exchange
rate for contracts with similar maturity profiles. The fair value
of interest rate swaps is determined with reference to the
market values of similar instruments.
Financial instruments qualifying as hedgest
The Group has decided to apply hedge accounting for the
majority of its derivative instruments in order to reduce the
impact to profit of hedges implemented.
The main hedge instruments authorised within the framework
of the Group hedging policy are as follows: pure time, “forward” participating, first generation options, “swap” (currency
or interest rate).
In order to be taken into account in recognising the hedge,
the hedge terms must satisfy several strict conditions with
regard to documentation, probability of realisation, effectiveness of cover and reliability of measurement. These conditions are as follows:
• on origination of the hedge, formal documentation and
designation exists in relation to the hedge ;
• it is expected that the hedge will be highly effective to offset variations in fair value or cash flows attributable to the
hedged risk;
• within the framework of cash flow hedges, the transaction which is the subject of the hedge must be highly probable and must carry an exposure to cash flow variations
which could affect net income;
• the effectiveness of the hedge must be reliably measured;
• the hedge is measured on a basis of continuing operations, and is highly effective during the periods covered by
the financial statements against which the hedge was designated.
The documentation must include:
• identification of the hedge instrument;
• identification of the object covered (asset or liability recognised, firm commitment, etc.);
• the nature of the risk covered (interest rate, exchange rate,
etc.);
• the method of measuring the efficiency of the hedge.
The test of effectiveness, aimed at demonstrating the effectiveness of the hedge, must compare the variations (whether
of fair value or of cash flows) of the covered element and the
variations of the hedge:
• the difference between this two variations equates to the
inefficient part of the hedge;
• the variations must offset within a ratio between 80% and
125%;
• the effectiveness is assessed, at a minimum, on the date
on which the entity prepares its interim or annual financial
statements.
If the ineffective portion is such that the ratio 80 - 125% is
not fulfilled, it results in a disqualification of the hedge.
The hedging policies adopted by the M6 Group are mainly of
two types:
• Hedging the exposure to movements in the fair value of
an asset or liability
All gains or losses from the revaluation of the hedging instrument to fair value are immediately recognised in the
income statement. All gains and losses on the hedged part
attributable to the risk covered is taken to the carrying value
of the hedged part and is recognised in the income statement.
This results in symmetric recognition of movements in fair
value of the hedged part and the hedging instrument for
the effective part of the hedge in profit from operations. The
ineffective part of the hedge is recorded in finance
income/expense.
• Hedging future cash flows (where they cover the exposure to movements in cash flow that are attributable either
to an anticipated transaction or to a firm commitment): recognition of movements in the fair value of the financial instrument for the effective part in equity until the balance
sheet recognition of the asset or liability.
When the hedged part is recorded, this leads to the recognition of an asset or a liability, the amount recorded in equity
is transferred and included in the initial value of the cost of
acquisition of the asset or liability.
For the ineffective part, movements in value are included in
finance income/expense. All other cash flow hedges, the
amounts taken directly to equity are transferred to income
for the year in progress where the anticipated transaction
or firm commitment affect the income statement.
Annual report 2005
141
3.17. Revenuet
In compliance with IAS 18, Revenue, revenue realised by the
various Group entities is recognised when:
• It is probable that the economic benefits of the transaction will flow to the Group;
• The amount of revenue can be measured reliably;
• At the transaction date, it is probable that the amount of
the sale will be recovered.
Annual report 2005
Basic earnings per share is determined by dividing the net
profit attributable to Group shareholders by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the period.
Diluted earnings per share is calculated inclusive of all instruments giving access to the Group share capital, having a dilutive effect. The dilution of share purchase and subscription
options is determined in accordance with the share purchase
method. This method allows the inclusion of unredeemed shares which added to the ordinary shares in circulation and have
a dilutive effect.
Treasury shares carried as a reduction to consolidated equity
are not taken into account in the calculation of earnings per
share.
3.19. Cash and casht
equivalentst
Cash comprises cash on hand in the bank current account
and demand deposits.
Cash equivalents are investments, readily convertible into cash,
subject to an insignificant risk of changes in value, with a maturity of less than 3 months.
Management Report
Financial accounts
Some financial instruments are not treated as hedges according to the definition of IAS 39, despite effectively being hedge
instruments used to manage economic risks. Gains and losses resulting from the revaluation of financial instruments
which may not be accounted for as hedges are recognised in
the income statement in the period.
Basic and diluted earnings per share, as presented on the
face of the Group income statement, are calculated in compliance with IAS 33, Earnings per Share.
Legal Information
Financial instruments not qualifying as hedgest
• Advertising revenues are recorded on the broadcast of
the advertisements which are the subject of the sale; revenue is recognized net of commercial rebates.
• Satellite television subscriptions are recognised as revenue on a straight-line basis over the duration of the contract.
Rebates awarded to customers as subscription offers are
recorded as a deduction to revenue; other purchase costs
are recorded in operating expenses as incurred.
• Remuneration of digital channels granted by cable and
satellite broadcast operators are calculated on a per subscription basis or at an annual set price.
• Diversification activities revenues are recognised on the
billing or delivery of the products; they are recognised net
of provisions for returns.
• Sales of audiovisual rights are recognized at the opening
date of the rights, essentially within the framework of television sales; other sales (theatre, video) are recognized on
admission or on delivery of the material.
• Sports revenues are recognised in line with the sports
season with the exception of premiums relating to future
ranking which are recognised at the date on which the ranking is acquired.
• Mobile telephone revenues are recognised:
- for the portion relating to signing up, the month of signing
of a new subscription and adjusted for attrition rates,
- and for the portion relating to monthly operating revenues, spread over the duration of the subscription period
to match the revenues received by the Group.
3.18. Earnings per Sharet
Financial Report
The recognition of a hedge instrument ceases when the hedge
instrument expires or is sold, rescinded or exercised, or no longer fulfils the qualification criteria for the recognition of a hedge.
At this point, all accumulated profit or loss realised on the
hedge instrument recognised in equity is maintained in equity
until the transaction is complete. If it is no longer expected
that the hedged transaction will take place, the accumulated
net profit or loss recognised in equity is transferred to the net
income for the period.
More specifically, the revenue recognition principles per activity are as follows:
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements IFRS
Cessation of qualification of a hedget
142
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements IFRS
Legal Information
Financial accounts
Management Report
In this respect, the FCP and SICAV mutual funds held by the
Group are recognised as cash equivalents. The Group holds
exclusively Euro FCP and SICAV mutual funds, exposed to a
very limited rate risk and of which the volatility over 12 months
is very close to that of Eonia.
3.20. Cash Flowt
Statementt
The table presents actual cash flows relating to the operations of the entities within the scope of consolidation at the
year end. It has been established in compliance with IAS 7,
Cash Flow Statements.
Cash flows from operating activities
Movements in inventories and receivables are calculated net
of movements in provisions against the current assets.
In addition, in order to illustrate the effect of taxation on the
movement in cash, the tax expense is removed from the selffinancing capability, and the movement in the tax liability is
removed from the variation in working capital requirements.
The disbursement for taxation is thus isolated as a specific
line item.
Financial Report
cash flows from investing activities
The effects on cash of adjustments to the consolidation scope
resulting from acquisitions and disposals of entities are identified on the lines “net cash generated by acquisitions of subsidiaries” and “net cash generated by disposals of subsidiaries”.
4. Business combinationst
4.1. Société Nouvelle det
Cinématographie (SNC)t
4.2. Citatot
On 29 April 2005, M6 acquired from Immobilière Bayard d’Antin SA (RTL Group) 100% of SNC, a company with revenue
of € 4.3 million and operating profit of € 2.4 million in 2004 .
Through SNC, which holds a catalogue of more than 400 titles, comprised of hit movies and French cinema classics, the
Group is reinforcing its management and distribution of audiovisual rights activities.
As the transaction took place based on the SNC financial statements as at 31 March 2005, the Group has wholly consolidated SNC from 1 April 2005.
The initial difference on consolidation has been fully allocated
to the catalogues as demonstrated below
Acquisition cost net of expenses
Value of assets and liabilities acquired (Group Share)
Net assets at 1 April 2005
Revaluation of catalogue
Deferred tax relating to the revaluation of the catalogue
Revalued net assets at 1 April 2005
Goodwill
On 1 April 2005, M6 Interactions acquired for € 0.2 million,
80% of Citato, an editor of a magazine distributed free to
approximately 200,000 young people between 15 and 20,
which contributes to a panorama of the French press via a
monthly selection of articles from major news papers. Citato
recorded revenues of € 0.2 million during its first accounting
period (17 months) ending 30 June 2005, with an operating
loss of € 0.3 million.
Citato has been wholly consolidated into the Group financial
statements from 1 April 2005.
The Group has committed itself to acquire the remaining 20%
from the founders in 2007.
In recognition of the negative net assets of Citato at 1 April
2005 of € 0.3 million, the goodwill resulting from the operation amounted to € 0.5 million.
13.0
3.0
15.2
(5.2)
13.0
-
4.3. Mistergooddealt
On 15 November 2005, HSS acquired 95% of the capital of
Mistergooddeal, one of the principal players in the French ecommerce market and leader of the liquidation of major brands
on the Internet. In 2004, Mistergooddeal realised revenues of
€ 45.0 million and an operating profit of approximately € 1.0 million.
Annual report 2005
143
Acquisition price
Costs of acquisition
Acquisition price inclusive of costs
Value of assets and liabilities acquired (Group share)
- Net assets at 15 November 2005
- Capitalisation of tax losses and other deferred tax assets
Revalued net asset at 15 November 2005
Goodwill
42.4
0.7
43.1
3.3
1.8
5.1
38.0
The Group has until 14 November 2006 to finalise the allocation of the acquisition difference. It is envisaged that a part
of this difference will be allocated to the Mistergooddeal brand
which has strong recognition amongst merchant sites.
Annual report 2005
4.5. Impact of acquisitionst
and disposals in 2005t
The impact of acquisitions and disposals on Group revenue
and operating profit is analysed as follows:
Revenue
SNC
1.1
Citato
0.1
Mistergooddeal
13.2
Disposals of RTL Shop and Home Travel Service
(gross before taxation)
Total impact
14.4
Operating
Profit
(0.2)
(0.2)
0.4
13.3
13.3
Management Report
Financial accounts
Legal Information
Taking account of this purchase agreement, goodwill has been
calculated on the basis of the acquisition of 100% of the share
capital. The acquisition price being analysed as the amount disbursed in 2005 to purchase 95% of the shares and the current value (using a risk free interest rate) of an estimated disbursement in 2008 to acquire the residual 5%
With the purpose of rationalising its offer and its investment
portfolio, HSS has disposed of its joint venture and minority
investments during the period:
• On 19 July 2005, HSS disposed of its 20% investment
in RTL Shop, a “home shopping” company in Germany, to
RTL Interactive GmbH (RTL Group). The investment in RTL
Shop was accounted for under the equity method until 2004;
• On 14 October 2005, HSS disposed of 50% in Home
Travel Services, a company co-developed with a travel agent,
and proportionally consolidated until the date of its disposal.
Financial Report
The group agreed to a purchase commitment of the residual
5% held by the management team on the basis of an entity
revaluation based on revenue and profitability.
4.4. Disposals duringt
the periodt
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements IFRS
This acquisition constitutes a major opportunity to support the
development of distance selling activities for the Group.
Mistergooddeal has been wholly consolidated into the Group
financial statements from 15 November 2005.
144
Financial Report
In application of IAS 14, Segment Reporting the primary segment is business segments. This distinction is based on the Group’s internal organization and management structure.
The contribution of each business segment to the income statement in 2005 is detailed as follows:
€ millions
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements IFRS
Legal Information
Financial accounts
Management Report
5. Segment reportingt
External turnover
Inter-segment turnover
Turnover
Profit from operations
Impairment of unamortised assets
Gain on asset disposals
Operating profit
Net finance income
Group share of associates
Profit before tax
Income tax
Net profit
Minority interest
Group share of net profit
M6 TV Network
Digital channels
Diversification
635.0
27.2
662.2
201.3
201.3
64.6
1.4
66.0
(3.8)
(3.8)
380.3
13.4
393.7
25.6
(0.8)
13.3
38.0
Elimination and
unallocated profit
(41.9)
(41.9)
(2.0)
(2.0)
Continuing
activities
1,079.9
1,079.9
221.1
(0.8)
13.3
233.6
2.7
236.3
(85.1)
151.2
(0.1)
151.1
Discontinuing
activities
194.8
194.8
8.7
8.7
(0.9)
7.8
(2.7)
5.1
0.0
5.1
Total
2005
1 274.7
1 274.7
229.8
(0.8)
13.3
242.3
1.8
244.1
(87.8)
156.3
(0.1)
156.2
Elimination and
unallocated profit
(33.8)
(33.8)
(2.1)
(2.1)
Continuing
activities
1,012.2
1,012.2
211.4
(3.6)
207.8
4.0
(0.6)
211.2
(80.8)
130.4
0.5
130.9
Discontinuing
activities
185.4
185.4
0.6
0.6
(3.9)
(3.3)
1.2
(2.1)
0.0
(2.1)
Total
2004
1,197.6
1,197.6
212.0
(3.6)
208.4
0.1
(0.6)
207.9
(79.6)
128.3
0.5
128.8
The contribution of each business segment to the 2004 income statement is detailed below:
€ millions
External turnover
Inter-segment turnover
Turnover
Profit from operations
Impairment of unamortised assets
Gain on asset disposals
Operating profit
Net finance income
Group share of associates
Profit before tax
Income tax
Net profit
Minority interest
Group share of net profit
M6 TV Network
Digital channels
Diversification
608.7
20.6
629.3
208.7
208.7
51.3
0.7
52.0
(4.9)
(2.8)
(7.7)
352.2
12.5
364.7
9.8
(0.8)
9.0
Annual report 2005
145
468.4
318.6
37.1
(37.7)
4.1
-
68.9
57.0
1.8
(2.3)
0.2
0.4
Diversification
Elimination
Total continuing
operations
TPS - discontinuing
operations
Total
363.0
(70.6)
829.7
358.8
1,188.5
564.4
102.3
666.7
201.8
219.3
1,031.5
358.8
1,390.3
783.7
102.3
886.0
-
85.6
(85.6)
7.4
0.4
11.2
(12.3)
-
96.8
(97.9)
7.4
0.4
259.4
46.7
(45.6)
3.1
-
(70.6)
31 December 2004 (€ millions)
Assets and liabilities
Segment assets
Unallocated assets
Total
Segment liabilities
Unallocated liabilities
Total
Other segment information
Tangible and intangible investments
Depreciation and amortisation
Impairment
Provision for impairment of investments
M6 TV Network
Digital channels
and TPS
Diversification
Elimination
Total
480.8
251.8
257.0
(92.7)
303.6
253.5
235.4
(94.4)
896.9
338.2
1,235.1
698.1
96.1
794.2
(0.9)
(40.0)
(20.2)
-
(7.7)
(21.6)
2.6
0.0
(76.4)
(18.3)
-
-
Unallocated assets relates to cash and other Group financial assets, as well as taxation receivables.
Unallocated liabilities relates to debt and other Group financial liabilities, as well as tax liabilities.
The Group does not present any segmental information by geographical segment as it has no significant operations outside of France.
Annual report 2005
(8.6)
(138.0)
(38.5)
2.6
201.8
219.3
Legal Information
Assets and liabilities
Segment assets
Unallocated assets
Total
Segment liabilities
Unallocated liabilities
Total
Other segment information
Tangible and intangible investments
Depreciation and amortisation
Impairment
Provision for impairment of investments
Digital channels
Financial Report
M6 TV Network
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements IFRS
31 December 2005 (€ millions)
Financial accounts
Management Report
The contributions of each business segment to the balance sheet is presented below for both 2005 and 2004:
146
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements IFRS
6.1. Other operating incomet
€ millions
Foreign exchange gains
Other income
Other operating income
Continuing
activities
2.1
48.7
50.8
2005
Discontinuing
activities
1.0
0.3
1.3
Total
3.1
49.0
52.1
Continuing
activities
1.7
51.5
53.2
2004
Discontinuing
activities
2.6
2.6
Continuing
activities
(127.2)
(44.1)
(222.0)
(2.5)
(184.8)
(580.6)
2004
Discontinuing
activities
(43.3)
(38.1)
(0.0)
(76.2)
(157.7)
Total
1.7
54.1
55.8
In 2005, as in 2004, other operating income primarily comprises Girondins de Bordeaux Football Club player transfer fees and asset production.
6.2. Materials and other operating expensest
€ millions
Broadcast rights consumption
Sale of goods
Other external services
Foreign exchange losses
Other expenses
Cost of sales and other operating expenses
Continuing
activities
(159.5)
(55.5)
(299.3)
(2.2)
(112.0)
(628.5)
2005
Discontinuing
activities
(44.6)
(18.0)
(0.0)
(92.2)
(154.8)
Total
(204.0)
(55.5)
(317.3)
(2.2)
(204.2)
(783.3)
Total
(170.5)
(44.1)
(260.1)
(2.6)
(260.9)
(738.3)
Financial Report
Legal Information
Financial accounts
Management Report
6. Other operating income and expensest
Annual report 2005
147
(29.2)
(24.5)
(16.7)
(20.1)
12.6
0.3
(0.8)
(78.4)
Continuing
activities
(30.6)
(8.3)
(33.2)
(9.6)
9.0
0.9
(3.6)
(75.3)
2004
Discontinuing
activities
(1.1)
(12.0)
2.9
(10.3)
Total
(30.6)
(8.3)
(34.3)
(21.6)
9.0
3.8
(3.6)
(85.6)
6.4. Employee and workforce expensest
€ millions
Wages and salaries
Social security charges
Pension benefit
Profit sharing plan contributions
Other employee costs
Employee costs
Continuing
activities
(101.9)
(42.9)
(1.9)
(8.0)
(7.2)
(161.9)
2005
Discontinuing
activities
(12.4)
(5.8)
(0.1)
(1.6)
(19.8)
Total
(114.3)
(48.7)
(2.0)
(8.0)
(8.7)
(181.7)
Continuing
activities
(99.3)
(40.0)
(5.7)
(4.7)
(149.7)
2004
Discontinuing
activities
(10.5)
(5.1)
(1.1)
(16.8)
The average workforce size “full time equivalent” (FTE) of the wholly consolidated Group companies, other than Mistergooddeal, has risen to 1,736 in 2005, compared to 1,604 in 2004.
The FTE average workforce size of jointly controlled companies has risen to 266 in 2005 (compared to 243 in 2004), of which 244 participate in discontinuing operations.
Mistergooddeal has a workforce of 189.
Annual report 2005
Total
(109.8)
(45.1)
(5.7)
(5.9)
(166.5)
Financial accounts
Total
Legal Information
2005
Discontinuing
activities
(1.4)
(10.9)
2.5
(9.8)
Financial Report
Amortisation and net provisions - audiovisual rights
Amortisation and net provisions - co-production costs
Amortisation and net provisions - other intangible assets
Depreciation - property, facilities and equipment
Writedown of broadcast rights
Other
Goodwill impairment
Total
Continuing
activities
(29.2)
(24.5)
(15.3)
(9.2)
12.6
(2.3)
(0.8)
(68.6)
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements IFRS
€ millions
Management Report
6.3. Amortisation, depreciation, impairment foreign exchange differences t
and inventory costs, included in operating expensest
148
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements IFRS
€ millions
Interest on loans from banks and associates
Capitalised interest on pension
Revaluation of derivative instruments
Other
Finance expenses
Continuing
activities
(0.3)
(0.4)
(0.0)
(2.3)
(3.0)
2005
Discontinuing
activities
(2.0)
(0.1)
(0.3)
(2.4)
Continuing
activities
4.4
0.9
0.2
0.1
5.6
2005
Discontinuing
activities
1.5
0.0
1.5
Total
(2.3)
(0.4)
(0.1)
(2.6)
(5.4)
Continuing
activities
(1.1)
0.7
(0.4)
2004
Discontinuing
activities
(1.4)
(1.4)
(0.7)
(3.5)
Total
(1.4)
(2.5)
(3.9)
6.6. Finance incomet
€ millions
Investment income
Other interest income
Revaluation of derivative instruments
Other financial income
Finance income
Total
4.4
0.9
1.7
0.1
7.2
Continuing
activities
4.4
0.0
4.4
2004
Discontinuing
activities
(0.4)
(0.4)
Total
4.0
0.0
4.0
The ineffective parts of hedges are recorded in profit.
Financial Report
Legal Information
Financial accounts
Management Report
6.5. Finance Expensest
Annual report 2005
149
Income tax payable
Deferred tax
Income tax
continuing
operations
(91.4)
6.3
(85.1)
2005
discontinuing
operations
(2.7)
(2.7)
Total
(94.1)
6.3
(87.8)
2004
continuing discontinuing
Total
operations
operations
(75.0)
1.2 (73.8)
(5.8)
(5.8)
(80.8)
1.2 (79.6)
A deferred income tax rate of 34.43% was used for 2005, compared to 34.93% for 2004.
Deferred tax resulting from adjustments to net assets is as follows:
€ millions
Deferred tax
Fair value revaluation of foreign exchange contracts
Fair value revaluation of foreign exchange contracts
(cash flow hedge)
TOTAL
2005
2004
0.1
0.2
0.0
0.1
1.4
1.6
27.1
2.4
1.6
0.3
31.4
Deferred tax liabilities
Difference from first-time consolidation of SNC
RTL Shop Loss
FC des Girondins de Bordeaux players
Other
TOTAL
(2.5)
(2.2)
(1.5)
(6.2)
(4.8)
(0.5)
(5.4)
2004
The prior tax losses of Paris Première following the integration of the entity into the M6 tax group
have not been recognised.
At 31 December 2005, no deferred tax liability has been recognised for taxes which may be due
on undistributed profits of certain Group subsidiaries, associated companies or joint ventures.
Financial accounts
¤
€ millions
2005
Deferred tax assets
Temporary differences between taxable profit and consolidation restatements 25.2
Retirement benefits
3.1
IAS39
0.0
Losses to be used against future taxable profits
1.7
TOTAL
30.1
Legal Information
€ millions
The sources of deferred tax at 31 December are as follows:
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements IFRS
Métropole Télévision SA has declared itself as the parent company of a tax grouping pursuant to
the provisions of articles 223-a and subsequent of the Income Tax Code, as of 1 January 1988.
All Group French registered companies that are subject to income tax and are more than 95% owned
directly or indirectly by Métropole Télévision are members of the tax grouping, with the exception of
SNC and Mistergooddeal, which were acquired in 2005.
The main components of income tax in 2004 and 2005 are as follows:
Management Report
7. Income taxt
The payment of dividends by the Group to its shareholders has no fiscal consequences.
€ millions
Consolidated profit before tax and goodwill amortisation
Theoretical tax charge
Impact of permanent differences and unrecognised deferments
Effective tax charge
Annual report 2005
2005
244.9
85.5
2.3
87.8
2004
211.5
74.9
4.7
79.6
Financial Report
The following schedule reconciles the income tax accounting expense with the income tax arising
from the theoretical tax rate for the financial years ending 31 December 2005 and 2004 :
150
Management Report
8. Discontinuing operations (TPS)t
Vivendi Universal, TF1 and M6 announced on 16 December 2005 and signed on 6 January 2006 an industrial agreement aimed at combining
Canal+ Group and TPS Pay TV activities in France in an entity controlled by Vivendi Universal.
On the occurrence of this combination, this new entity will be held 5.1% by M6 and controlled exclusively by Vivendi Universal.
In this respect, TPS’ contribution to the Group accounts has been presented individually.
Financial Report
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements IFRS
Legal Information
Financial accounts
Contribution to Group net profit is presented as follows:
€ millions
Turnover
Other operating revenues
Operating expenses
Operating profit
Finance cost
Loss recognised on fair value revaluation
Loss before tax on discontinuing operations
Income tax
Profit/(loss) on discontinuing operations
TPS
contribution
(34 %)
206.0
1.3
(198.6)
8.7
(0.9)
7.8
(2.7)
5.1
2005
Elimination of
intra-group
transactions
(11.2)
11.2
-
Liabilities
Long-term liabilities
Current liabilities
Net liabilities of discontinuing operations
194.8
1.3
(187.4)
8.7
(0.9)
7.8
(2.7)
5.1
TPS
contribution
(34 %)
195.1
2.6
(197.1)
0.6
(3.9)
(3.3)
1.2
(2.1)
2004
Elimination
of intra-group
transactions
(9.7)
Discontinuing
operations
185.4
2.6
(187.4)
0.6
(3.9)
(3.3)
1.2
(2.1)
9.7
-
Cash flows linked to TPS operations are as follows:
The balance sheet items, grouped into one line as an asset or liability in 2005, are analysed as follows:
(€ millions)
Assets
Intangible
Tangible
Other fixed assets
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents
Discontinuing
operations
2005
95.0
23.2
1.8
79.8
2.0
201.8
(€ millions)
Operating cash flows
Cash flows from long-term investment
Financing and investing cash flows
Net Cash Flows
2005
16.2
(12.4)
(3.4)
0.4
2004
44.5
(8.8)
(35.7)
0.0
35.1
184.2
219.3
(17.5)
Annual report 2005
151
For the year ending 31 December 2005, the calculation of diluted earnings per ordinary share does not take into account certain 1.9 million share options.
The exercise price of these options is higher at the year end date than the price of ordinary shares, thus the options are considered anti-dilutive.
10. Dividends paid and proposedt
Declared and paid during the year (€ millions)
Dividend paid per ordinary share (€)
2005
110.0
0.84
2004
86.2
0.67
Proposed for approval at the AGM (€ millions)
(not recognised as a liability at 12/31/2005)
Dividend paid per ordinary share (€)
125.3
0.95
-
Annual report 2005
130,741,455
3,307,305
1,926,690
132,668,145
1.192
1.153
1.188
1.149
0.985
1.001
0.971
0.987
Financial accounts
131,042,580
3,156,308
417,723
131,460,303
Legal Information
Net earnings per share
Net earnings per share from continuing operations
Diluted earnings per share
Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations
2004
128.8
(2.1)
130.9
Financial Report
Average weighted number of shares (excluding treasury shares)
Total options granted (including non dilutive)
Number of shares to be adjusted for dilutive effects
Average weighted number of shares (excluding treasury shares), adjusted for the effects of dilution
2005
156.2
5.1
151.1
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements IFRS
Net profit attributable to shareholders (€ millions)
Profit/(loss) attributable to discontinuing operations (€ millions)
Net profit from continuing activities attributable to shareholders (€ millions)
Management Report
9. Earnings per sharet
152
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements IFRS
At 31 December 2005, property, facilities and equipment totalled € 61.8 million, of which € 43.9 million comprised land and
buildings, including the Group’s head office facilities.
31 December 2004
(€ millions)
At 1 January 2004, net of amortisation and depreciation
Additions
Acquisition of subsidiary (gross)
Disposals
Depreciation charge 2004
Amortisation of subsidiary acquisitions
Reversal of writedown on disposals
At 31 December 2004, net of depreciation and writedown
Land
Buildings
39.3
0.5
(2.8)
37.0
Technicals
facilities
5.5
6.2
4.0
(4.7)
(3.2)
(3.3)
4.1
8.6
Others
PFE
35.2
12.2
2.5
(6.3)
(14.5)
(1.7)
4.3
31.7
Assets under
construction
3.7
2.5
(4.5)
1.7
7.8
7.8
At 1 January 2004
Cost
Accumulated depreciation and writedown
Net Total
At 31 December 2004
Cost or fair value
Accumulated depreciation and writedown
Net Total
Total
91.5
21.4
6.5
(15.5)
(20.5)
(5.0)
8.4
86.8
7.8
7.8
56.1
(16.8)
39.3
34.7
(29.2)
5.5
126.6
(91.4)
35.2
3.7
3.7
228.9
(137.4)
91.5
7.8
7.8
56.6
(19.7)
37.0
40.2
(31.6)
8.6
134.9
(103.2)
31.7
1.7
1.7
241.3
(154.5)
86.8
Financial Report
Legal Information
Financial accounts
Management Report
11. Property, facilities and equipmentt
Annual report 2005
Others
PFE
31.7
11.2
(117.4)
0.3
(7.1)
(13.9)
95.0
(0.2)
6.8
6.4
Assets under
construction
1.7
0.4
(0.7)
(0.9)
0.6
7.8
7.8
At 1 January 2005
Cost
Accumulated depreciation and writedown
Net Total
At 31 December 2005
Cost or fair value
Accumulated depreciation and writedown
Net Total
Total
86.8
18.4
(118.3)
1.4
(10.0)
(20.1)
95.1
(0.3)
8.7
61.8
7.8
7.8
56.6
(19.7)
37.0
40.2
(31.6)
8.6
134.9
(103.2)
31.7
1.7
1.7
241.3
(154.5)
86.8
7.8
7.8
58.7
(22.6)
36.1
43.9
(33.0)
10.9
23.7
(17.3)
6.4
0.6
0.6
134.7
(72.9)
61.8
Financial accounts
37.0
1.0
1.0
(2.9)
(0.1)
36.1
Technicals
facilities
8.6
5.8
(0.1)
0.1
(2.0)
(3.4)
0.1
(0.1)
1.9
10.9
Legal Information
Buildings
Financial Report
Land
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements IFRS
31 December 2005
(€ millions)
At 1 January 2005, net of depreciation and writedown
Additions
Assets included in discontinuing operations
Acquisition of subsidiary (gross)
Disposals
Depreciation charge 2005
Depreciation included in discontinuing operations
Amortisation of subsidiary acquisitions
Reversal of writedown on disposals
At 31 December 2005, net of depreciation and writedown
Management Report
153
Annual report 2005
154
Financial Report
Audiovisual rights include cinematographic, televisual and videographic rights and guaranteed minimums.
Goodwill recognised on the acquisition of the Société Nouvelle
de Cinématographie subsidiary, has been entirely allocated to
the audiovisual rights catalogue.
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements IFRS
Legal Information
Financial accounts
Management Report
12. Intangible assetst
31 December 2004
(€ millions)
At 1 January 2004, net of writedown and amortisation
Acquisitions
Subsidiary acquisitions (gross)
Disposals
Impairments
2004 Amortisation charge
Writedown of subsidiary acquisitions
Reversal of writedown on disposals
At 31 December 2004
Other intangible assets consist of computer software and coproductions.
In application of IAS 20, Accounting for Government Grants
and Disclosure of Government Assistance, grants received
from the CNC are recognised as a reduction in the value of
the co-production assets.
Audivisual
rights
33.1
34.6
(5.8)
(26.5)
5.7
41.1
Business
rights
0.6
0.6
Other intangible
assets
40.8
20.2
3.2
(0.5)
(39.2)
(2.0)
0.4
22.9
Assets advances
and deposit
21.8
9.2
(1.6)
29.4
Goodwill
Total
101.7
24.0
(11.1)
114.6
198.0
88.0
3.2
(7.9)
(65.7)
(13.1)
6.1
208.6
At 1 January 2004
Cost
Accumulated amortisation and writedowns
Net Total
198.3
(165.2)
33.1
0.8
(0.2)
0.6
227.1
(186.3)
40.8
21.8
21.8
114.3
(12.6)
101.7
562.3
(364.3)
198.0
At 31 December 2004
Cost
Accumulated amortisation and writedowns
Net Total
287.2
(246.1)
41.1
0.8
(0.2)
0.6
200.2
(177.3)
22.9
29.4
29.4
130.8
(16.2)
114.6
648.4
(439.8)
208.6
Annual report 2005
At 1 January 2005
Cost
Accumulated amortisation and writedown
Net Total
287.2
(246.1)
41.1
0.8
(0.2)
0.6
200.2
(177.3)
22.9
29.4
29.4
130.8
(16.2)
114.6
648.4
(439.8)
208.6
At 31 December 2005
Cost
Accumulated amortisation and writedown
Net Total
349.8
(287.0)
62.9
0.2
0.2
258.4
(243.8)
14.7
30.3
30.3
78.4
(17.1)
61.3
717.2
(547.8)
169.4
Annual report 2005
0.2
Other intangible
assets
22.9
39.5
(11.0)
0.4
(13.2)
1.8
(43.0)
(0.4)
8.4
9.3
14.7
Assets advances
and deposit
29.4
2.4
(1.5)
-
Goodwill
-
(0.8)
-
30.3
61.3
114.6
(91.0)
38.5
Total
208.6
77.8
(103.5)
76.3
(25.5)
6.6
(77.8)
(0.4)
(13.5)
20.8
169.4
Financial accounts
Business
rights
0.6
(0.4)
-
Legal Information
Audivisual
rights
41.1
35.9
37.4
(11.9)
5.6
(34.8)
(21.9)
11.5
62.9
Financial Report
31 December 2005
(€ millions)
At 1 January 2005, net of writedown and amortisation
Acquisitions
Assets used in discontinuing operations (gross)
Subsidiary acquisitions (gross)
Disposals
Impairments
2005 Amortisation charge
Writedown included in discontinuing operations
Writedown of subsidiary acquisitions
Reversal of writedown on disposals
At 31 December 2005
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements IFRS
Management Report
155
156
Management Report
13. Goodwill impairment testst
and intangible assets with an t
indeterminable lifet
14.Financial assetst
available for salet
Available-for-sale financial assets constitute investments held
by the Group in non-consolidated companies and receivables
which are directly related to them.
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements IFRS
Legal Information
Financial accounts
Goodwill has evolved as follows in 2004 and 2005:
Gross
At 1 January 2004
114.3
TPS
Acquisition
16.6
Paris Première
Boutique du Monde
Disposal
At 31 December 2004
130.9
Acquisition
38.5
Mistergooddeal
Citato
Goodwill relating to discontinuing
operations (TPS)
(91.0)
At 31 December 2005
78.4
92.6
15.5
0.9
38.0
0.5
Financial Report
The discounted cash flow method used to determine the value
in use is based upon the following principles :
Impairment
At 1 January 2004 (accumulated) (12.6)
Impairment
(3.6)
Fun TV
M6 Foot
Disposal
At 31 December 2004 (accumulated) (16.2)
Impairment
(0.9)
Boutique du Monde
Disposal
At 31 December 2005 (accumulated) (17.1)
Net carrying value
At 1 January 2004
At 31 December 2004
At 31 December 2005
Paris Première
Mistergooddeal
(2.8)
(0.8)
These assets total € 8.2 million at 31 December 2004, of which
€ 7.2 million are linked to RTL Shop. Following the disposal of
RTL Shop, financial assets at 31 December 2005 are only
€ 0.3 million.
(0.9)
101.7
114.6
61.3
15.5
38.0
• Discount rate before tax: 8.11%
• Infinite growth rate: 2%
With the exception of Boutique du Monde (HSS), the tests of
value in use of assets to which goodwill is attached, did not
reveal any evidence of impairment of goodwill.
Annual report 2005
157
Associate current accounts
Amortisation of associate current accounts
2005
2004
6.4
6.3
(1.7)
0
Other financial assets
1.6
1.4
Other non-current financial assets
6.3
7.7
Derivative financial instruments
They are classified as other current financial assets when the
market value of the instruments is positive and classified current financial liabilities when their market value is negative.
Annual report 2005
Management Report
TCM DA
Série Club
TF6
TF6 Gestion
Operations
2004
50%
50%
50%
50%
Broadcasting rights portfolio
Série Club digital channel
TF6 digital channel
TF6 management
The contributions of joint ventures to the Group consolidated financial statements are as follows:
€ millions
Non-current assets
Current assets
Non-current liabilities
Current liabilities
Net Assets
Turnover
Profit
2005
18.6
12.1
(5.2)
(19.6)
5.9
2004
23.6
7.3
(11.1)
(17.5)
2.3
Variation
(5.0)
4.8
5.9
(2.1)
3.6
17.3
6.8
16.6
1.8
0.7
5.0
Financial accounts
% ownership
2005
50%
50%
50%
50%
Legal Information
€ millions
Entities in which M6 or one of its subsidiaries has a joint venture interest are as follows:
Financial Report
Other non-current financial assets
This mainly includes the part not eliminated of current accounts
with joint ventures and considered to have a maturity of over
1 year. The debt arising from financing a co-shareholder is
classified as non-current financial debt in accordance with the
principle of not offsetting financial assets and liabilities.
The current accounts are loans at variable interest rates based
on eonia.
The group does not hold any non-current financial assets with
fixed interest rates.
Income arising from these assets is recorded in the period as
finance income. Such loans are initially recognised at amortised cost.
16. Investments in joint venturest
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements IFRS
15.Other financialt
assetst
158
The main indices used to value share subscription option plans and free share allocation plans are as follows:
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements IFRS
Legal Information
Financial accounts
Management Report
17. Share-based paymentst
Model
Reference
price
Exercise
price
Historical
volatility
Risk
free rate
Expected
yield
Liquidity
rating
Fair
value
Share subscription plans
07/25/03
Trinomial
23.66
22.48
52.3%
3.05%
15%
8.42
11/14/03
Trinomial
25.07
23.82
52.3%
3.54%
15%
9.11
04/28/04
Trinomial
24.97
24.97
52.3%
3.32%
15%
8.8
06/02/05
Trinomial
20.17
19.94
41.8%
3.24%
€ 0.86 gross
+15% annual growth
€ 0.86 gross
+15% annual growth
€ 0.86 gross
+15% annual growth
€ 0.84 gross
+15% annual growth
15%
4.72
Plans granting free shares
02/06/05
Trinomial
20.17
0
41.8%
3.24%
15%
23.75
€ 0.84 gross
+15% annual growth
The maturity used for each plan corresponds to its period of unavailability (4 years for share subscription plans /
2 years for plans granting free shares)
The following are the resulting impacts in the income statement under the line “employee expenses”:
Financial Report
Employee costs
2005
2004
Share subscription plans
Dated 07/25/03
Dated 11/14/03
Dated 04/28/04
Dated 06/02/05
1.3
1.6
0.4
1.3
1.1
-
Plans granting free shares
Dated 06/02/05
Total
0.7
4.0
2.4
Annual report 2005
159
Management Report
18. Retirement benefits severance payt
The different impacts of retirement benefits on the financial statements are analysed as follows:
Total
1.4
0.4
1.8
Amounts recognised as liabilities under defined benefit schemes
(€ millions)
Actuarial value of obligation
Unrecognised net actuarial gain/loss
Unrecognised past service cost
Provision for discontinuing operations
Amount recognised as an asset/liability under defined benefit schemes
2005
11.2
(1.8)
(0.3)
2004
7.6
(0.5)
-
9.1
7.1
Financial accounts
Current service cost
Interest expense
Expected return on plan assets
Actuarial gain or loss
Past service cost
Net expense
Discontinuing
activities
0.1
0.1
Legal Information
Continuing
activities
1.3
0.4
1.7
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements IFRS
The main actuarial assumptions used are as follows:
Income Statement Expenses
(€ millions)
Discount rate
Future salary increases
Inflation
Annual report 2005
2005
%
4.00
3.63
2.00
2004
%
4.50
3.80
2.00
Financial Report
The main actuarial assumptions used are as follows:
160
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements IFRS
€ millions
Broadcast rights
Commercial inventories
Total
109.5
223.4
(15.5)
0.0
(214.4)
12.7
8.7
63.7
(57.3)
7.5
0.0
(1.5)
118.2
287.1
(72.8)
7.5
(214.4)
11.2
Net book value at 31 December 2005
115.7
21.1
136.8
At 1 January 2005
Cost
Accumulated writedown
172.2
(62.7)
16.4
(7.7)
188.6
(70.4)
Net book value
109.5
8.7
118.2
At 31 December 2005
Cost or fair value
Accumulated writedown
165.8
(50.1)
30.4
(9.3)
196.2
(59.4)
Net book value
115.7
21.1
136.8
Net book value at 1 January 2005
Acquisitions
Assets included in discontinuing operations
Subsidiary purchase
Expensed
Writedown charge/reversal
Financial Report
Legal Information
Financial accounts
Management Report
19. Inventoriest
Annual report 2005
161
€ millions
Deposit with Immobilière Bayard d’Antin SA
FCP et SICAV mutual funds
Cash at the bank
Cash relating to discontinuing operations
2005
40.0
197.1
7.9
(2.0)
2004
202.0
9.5
-
Total cash and cash equivalents
243.1
211.5
Financial Report
Cash and marketable securities are financial assets held for trading (fair value through income statement) and as such are measured at fair value.
The FCP and SICAV mutual funds doe not contain any unrealised capital gains, as these were realised at 31 December 2005.
The deposits with Immobilière Bayard d’Antin SA are covered by a cash agreement described in note 27.
Legal Information
21. Cash and cash equivalentst
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements IFRS
Trade and other receivables are comprised of commercial receivables and other receivables linked
to operations, such as advances and deposits.
Financial accounts
Management Report
20. Trade and other receivablest
Annual report 2005
162
Financial Report
Shares comprising Métropole Télévision’s equity
Number of issued shares :
thousands
Ordinary shares with a par value ¤ 0.4
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements IFRS
Legal Information
Financial accounts
Management Report
22. Equityt
2005
131,889
2004
131,889
Number of shares in circulation :
thousands
At 1 January 2005
Exercised stock options
Liquidity contract variations
At 31 December 2005
130,741
612
44
131,397
The shares comprising the capital of Métropole Télévision are all ordinary shares with one vote each.
All shares are fully paid.
Two share purchase option and seven share subscription plans for the benefit of management and senior executives were in place
at 31 December 2005.
Movements in equity not recorded in the
income statement
The effective part of the movement in the fair value of financial instruments recorded as future cash flow hedges is recorded in equity. Interim gains or loss realised on a hedge (e.g. in
the event of a deferral) are taken to the same reserve. These
were the following movements on this reserve during the year:
The number of hedges of the future cash flow hedge kind
was 26 at 31 December 2004 and 22 at 31 December 2005.
The impact on equity and other reserves was as follows:
€ millions
2004
Exchange gain realised on incomplete transactions
New hedges
Former hedge variations
Maturity of hedges
Impact of operations on realised profit recorded in equity
Variation in assets held with a view to being disposed
2005
Reserves relating to derivative financial instruments
(4.5)
0.1
0.7
1.3
2.0
0.5
0.1
Annual report 2005
163
2005
10.4
(5.3)
5.1
2004
12.1
Current financial liabilities
Net financial instruments
Financial liabilities relating to discontinuing operations
Total current financial liabilities
52.7
0.2
(51.2)
1.7
33.1
5.9
12.1
39.0
The analysis of the financial debt between fixed and variable interest rates, after inclusion of all the unexpired rate hedges at the
end of 2004 was as follows:
Financial Report
Fixed rate borrowings
Variable rate borrowings
2004
86%
14%
Financial accounts
The only debt at that date comprised:
- the share of debt of co-shareholders in the jointly held
companies;
- two medium-term loans for € 0.75 million in total taken
by Mistergooddeal to acquire premises.
€ millions
Non-current financial liabilities (leases)
Financial liabilities relating to discontinuing operations
Total non-current financial liabilities
Legal Information
At 31 December 2005, the TPS debt was reported as part
of the liabilities to be disposed.
Movement in net debt
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements IFRS
At 31 December 2004, the Group debt was for the most
part borrowings by TPS from financial institutions for leasing
and by the Group’s co-shareholders in TPS for the balance
of funding. In 2004, the shareholders effectively replaced
banks in financing TPS for their respective shares.
Management Report
23. Financial debtt
Annual report 2005
164
Financial Report
(€ millions)
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements IFRS
Legal Information
Financial accounts
Management Report
24. Provisionst
Provisions for
retirement benefits
At 1 January 2005
7.1
Subsidiary acquisitions
Subsidiary disposals
Provisions for discontinuing
operations
(0.3)
Charge
2.2
Use
(0.4)
Reversals
Other differences
0.5
At 31 December 2005
Current 2005
Non Current 2005
Current 2004
Non Current 2004
9.1
9.1
9.1
7.1
7.1
Associates
losses
10.3
(10.3)
-
10.3
10.3
Provisions for
litigation (1)
18.1
-
(4.2)
3.4
(1.4)
(3.7)
12.2
12.2
12.2
18.1
18.1
Other provisions
for liabilities (2)
12.5
-
Other provisions
for charges (3)
32.6
0.6
Total
80.6
0.6
(10.3)
(3.0)
3.7
(2.7)
(3.4)
0.9
(7.9)
13.7
(0.2)
(1.6)
(1.1)
(15.4)
23.0
(4.7)
(8.7)
0.3
8.0
8.0
8.0
12.5
12.5
36.1
36.1
36.1
32.6
32.6
65.4
56.3
9.1
65.4
63.2
17.4
80.6
Additional information in respect of litigation in progress has
not been included individually as disclosure of such information could be prejudicial to the Métropole Télévision Group.
(1) Provisions for litigation comprise :
Provisions for M6 TV Network litigation
Provisions for Diversification litigation
Provisions for Digital Channels litigation
Provisions for social litigation
6.9
2.7
0.1
2.5
12.2
(2) Other provisions for liabilities relate to the following risks :
Provisions for M6 TV Network charges
Provisions for Paris Première miscellaneous charges
Provisions for Digital channels charges
Provisions for FC Girondins de Bordeaux charges
Other
3.9
1.7
1.2
0.5
0.7
8.0
(3) Other provisions for charges comprise provisions for M6 TV Network
charges totalling € 22.3 million
25. Payables and other liabilitiest
€ millions
Other
Asset related borrowings
Total non-current operating liabilities
Trade payables
Tax and social security liabilities
Other
Asset related borrowings
Total current operating liabilities
2005
7.8
7.8
296.4
209.4
54.6
20.9
581.3
2004
40.4
40.4
308.7
201.1
77.2
28.8
615.8
Annual report 2005
165
Total
2005
Total
2004
Terms and conditions
of implementation
493.6
674.4
475.1
Contracts signed
44.7
13.0
3.8
-
82.0
13.0
7.0
-
155.1
304.4
8.8
9.7
Contracts signed
SNC Liquidation
Leases
-
159.8
237.7
390.9
1,105.8
390.9
1,405.0
953.1
11.9
0.4
10.8
19.5
13.8
10.0
19.5
25.7
0.4
20.8
311.4
22.4
1.8
5.4
23.1
390.9
434.2
390.9
457.3
341.0
Commitments given :
Rights purchase and co-productions
commitments (1)
180.8
Images transmission, satellite rental
and transponders (2)
37.3
Responsibility for partnership liabilities (3)
Non-cancellable leases (2)
3.2
Others
Commitments given by discontinued
operations
77.9
Responsibility for liabilities
of discontinued operations
Total commitments given
299.2
(2) These commitments are valued by taking into account each
contract’s remaining amounts until their expiry date.
(3) To the extent that the partners in a Partnership (Société
en Nom Collectif – SNC) are liable in full and indefinitely for
the liabilities of the partnership, the Group presents in full the
liabilities of partnerships in which it is a partner, net of adjustments and partners’ current account balances, as an off-balance
sheet commitment given, and presents as an off-balance sheet
received, the other partner’s share of these liabilities.
SNC Liquidation
Annual maturities
Agreement date
-
No significant off-balance sheet commitments have been
excluded in accordance with accounting standards in force.
None of M6 Group’s non-current assets have been pledged
or mortgaged.
Financial Report
Commitments received :
Responsibility for partnership liabilities (3)
Sales commitments
Financial support granted by the CNC
Others
Responsibility for liabilities
of discontinued operations
Total commitments received
(1) Comprises:
• purchase commitments relating to rights not yet produced or completed,
• contractual commitments relating to co-productions awaiting receipt of technical acceptance or exploitation visa, net
of payments on account made.
Financial accounts
>1 year
Legal Information
<1 year
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements IFRS
€ millions
Management Report
26. Contingent assets and liabilitiest
Annual report 2005
166
Financial Report
Current transactions
27.1. Identification oft
related partiest
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements IFRS
Legal Information
Financial accounts
Management Report
27. Related partiest
Related parties to the M6 Group comprise unconsolidated
subsidiaries, jointly controlled companies and associates, RTL
Group, 48.56% Group shareholder, Bertelsmann AG, RTL
shareholder, executive officers and members of the Supervisory Board.
100% € millions
2005
2004
RTL BERTELSMANN RTL BERTELSMANN
Sales of goods and services 4.8
15.2 5.1
21.9
Purchases of materials
and services
16.3
3.1 15.1
8.6
100% € millions
Receivables
Liabilities
27.2. Transactions witht
shareholderst
According to a treasury management agreement concluded
between Immobilière Bayard d’Antin SA and Métropole Télévision dated 1 December 2005, Métropole Télévision can
deposit surplus cash with Immobilière Bayard d’Antin SA either
on a day to day basis, or by depositing part of it for a period
not exceeding 3 months. The remuneration provided by this
agreement is in line with the market.
In order to adhere to the cash deposit policy of Métropole
Télévision, the deposit with Immobilière Bayard d’Antin SA may
not exceed 20% of the cash resources of the Métropole Télévision Group.
2005
RTL BERTELSMANN
8.4
2.8
9.5
1
2004
RTL BERTELSMANN
4
4.3
6.7
0.4
Specific transactions
On 1 April 2005, the Group acquired from Bayard d’Antin,
100% of Société Nouvelle de Cinématographie for € 13 million
On 19 July 2005, the Group disposed of its 20% investment
in RTL Shop to RTL Interactive for € 10 million.
27.3. Transactions witht
Joint Venturest
The following transactions have taken place:
100 % € millions
Sales of goods and services
Net financial income
Purchases of materials and services
2005
37.6
2.5
20.3
2004
34.1
1.7
20
Sales and purchase transactions with Joint Ventures have
been conducted at arms’ length.
The outstanding balances arising from these sales and purchases are the following:
100 % € millions
Receivables
relating to financing
Liabilities
relating to financing
2005
22.2
9.4
7.9
1.2
2004
78
60.9
10
1.3
At 31 December 2005, the daily current account between M6
and Immobilière Bayard d’Antin SA amounted to € 40 million.
Annual report 2005
167
Share subscription options granted to management are detailed in notes 11.5.2 and 11.6 of the Group Management Report.
• Not hold more than 5% of the assets of a fund (control
ratio);
• Compulsory diversification : not to invest more than 20%
in a single item;
• Limit credit risk: compulsory investment in investment grade
within each fund.
Investment yields are regularly measured and reported to
management every month. A detailed analysis of the various
risks of these deposits is also produced quarterly.
Management Report
All cash resources must be able to be mobilised rapidly while
limiting capital risk. The Group’s approach is absolutely prudent and non speculative. Thus, certain prudent rules are followed as part of the group’s cash management:
Financial Report
In addition, in this respect and in accordance with the same
conditions as Group employees, the members of the Management Board may benefit from a legally binding end of career
payment. The overall cost and terms and conditions of determination are described in note 18.
The Group acquires from foreign suppliers programmes that
are denominated in US dollars or Pounds Sterling.
In order to protect itself from random market movements that
could adversely affect its income or wealth, the M6 Group
decided to hedge its purchases. The coverage is undertaken
at the appearance of an economic risk and is weighted as a
function of the underlying due date.
The Group only uses simple products that guarantee the
amount covered and a maximum cost of coverage. These are
forward purchases, for the most part.
A report is prepared every month on the movements in
exchange exposure in order to monitor risk management.
Financial accounts
Members of the Supervisory Board are paid attendance fees
amounting to € 120,000 and hold 2,000 Group shares.
Cash management policy
Legal Information
The remuneration paid to members of the Board of Directors
amounted to € 3.1 million.
Exchange risk
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements IFRS
27.4. Transactions with t
executive officers and t
directorst
28. Policy and objectives of financialt
risk managementt
Annual report 2005
168
Maturities
The maturity dates of hedge instruments are as follows (valued in € at the future hedge rate):
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements IFRS
Legal Information
Financial accounts
Management Report
29. Financial instrumentst
(€ millions)
TCM
SND
M6 TV
<1 year
4.8
6.8
11.4
from 1 to 5 years
4.1
Fair value
Financial instruments used by the Group measured at fair value are as follows:
Derivative financial instruments liabilities
€ millions
Fair value
2005 excluding TPS
Contractual or notional amount covered €
2004
Fair value
Contractual or notional amount covered €
Fair Value Hedges
foreign exchange future contracts
(1.2)
14.4
Cash Flow Hedges
foreign exchange future contracts
(2.1)
33.6
Off balance sheet derivatives
foreign exchange future contracts
options
interest rate swaps
0.0
0.0
(1.8)
0.0
0.0
16.8
1.1
0.0
TOTAL
0.0
0.0
(5.1)
65.9
Fair value
2005
Contractual or notional amount covered €
Fair value
Derivative financial instruments assets
€ millions
Financial Report
2005
4.8
6.8
15.5
Fair Value Hedges
foreign exchange future contracts
0.2
6.7
Cash Flow Hedges
foreign exchange future contracts
0.1
15.6
Off balance sheet derivatives
foreign exchange future contracts
0.1
4.8
0.4
27.1
TOTAL
2004
Contractual or notional amount covered €
Annual report 2005
169
Financial Report
• A reclassification of a restatement in accordance with IAS
21. This had an impact of an increase of € 3.8 million in
“other financial items” and a reduction of € 3.8 million in
“consumption and other operating charges”.
• The application of IFRS 5 and the presentation in columns
of operations being disposed.
Financial accounts
Changes to the 2004 income statement relate to:
The major impacts of IFRS on the financial statements at 31 December 2004 and 1 January 2004 are
as follow (Notes A to D).
Legal Information
The Group included in its 2004 annual report information on
the transition to IFRS. Changes, with no effect on equity at
31 December 2004, have since been made to this information to take account of certain presentation principles finally
retained for the publication of financial statements at 31
December 2005 in accordance with IFRS.
Changes to the balance sheet at 31 December 2004 relate to:
• The retention as assets of payments on account of income
tax and as liabilities the corporate tax liability. The impact of
this change in presentation is an increase of € 75.5 million
in “other current assets” and an increase of € 75.5 million
in “tax and social liabilities”.
• The reclassification to liabilities of the provision for the
unlikely broadcast of rights not open at 31 December 2004.
The impact of this change in presentation is an increase of
€ 17.0 million in “other current assets” and an increase of
€ 17.0 million in “current provisions for liabilities and charges”.
• The reclassification on the balance sheet of partners’ current accounts that have the features of a loan is an increase
of € 6.3 million in “other non-current assets”, an increase of
€ 29.2 million in “current financial assets” and a reduction
of € 35.5 million in “other current assets”.
The impact of this change in presentation on the liabilities
was an increase of € 5.7 million in “non-current financial
debt”, an increase of € 29.2 million in “current financial debt”,
and a reduction of € 34.9 million in “other current liabilities”.
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements IFRS
2005 is the first year when complete IFRS consolidated financial statements for the Group have been published in accordance with IFRS 1 First-time adoption of IFRS.
Management Report
30. Transition to IFRSt
Annual report 2005
170
Financial Report
1,197.6
55.8
1,253.4
Continuing
operations
185.4
2.6
188.0
Discontinuing
operations
1,012.2
53.2
1,065.4
(13.5)
(5.9)
(0.1)
(5.2)
(3.6)
(28.3)
(14.1)
(738.3)
(166.5)
(54.6)
(82.0)
(3.6)
(1,045.0)
208.4
(157.7)
(16.8)
(2.6)
(10.3)
(187.4)
0.6
(580.6)
(149.7)
(52.0)
(71.7)
(3.6)
(857.6)
207.8
4.0
(1.4)
(1.7)
0.9
(2.5)
1.7
(0.8)
4.0
(1.4)
(2.5)
0.1
(0.4)
(1.4)
(1.4)
(0.7)
(3.9)
4.4
(1.1)
0.7
4.0
2.6
(2.6)
-
-
-
Share of associates results
Profit before tax
Income tax
(0.6)
225.4
(80.7)
(17.5)
1.1
(0.6)
207.9
(79.6)
(3.3)
1.2
(0.6)
211.2
(80.8)
Profit before minority interest
Amortisation of acquisition goodwill
Minority interest
144.7
(6.5)
0.5
(16.4)
6.5
-
128.3
0.5
(2.1)
-
130.4
0.5
Net profit (Group share)
Number of shares in circulation (thousands)
Earnings per share - basic (€)
Earnings per share - basic (€) (Group share)
Earnings per share - diluted (€)
138.7
(9.9)
128.8
130,678
0.982
0.985
0.971
(2.1)
(0.016)
(0.016)
(0.016)
130.9
130,678
0.998
1.001
0.987
Turnover
Other income from ordinary activities
Total revenues from ordinary activities
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements IFRS
Legal Information
Financial accounts
Management Report
NOTE A : reconciliation of 2004 consolidated income statement (€ millions)
Materials and service purchases
Personnel costs (including profit sharing plan contributions)
Taxes and duties
Net depreciation/amortisation/provision charges
Impairment of unamortised intangible assets
Total operating expenses
Profit from operations
12/31/2004
French GAAP
1,192.8
46.4
1,239.2
IFRS
Restatements
4.8
9.4
14.2
12/31/2004
(724.8)
(160.6)
(54.5)
(76.8)
(1,016.7)
222.5
French GAAP Net Profit 12/31/2004
138.7
Restatement of treasury shares writedown (0.3)
Retirement benefits
0.6
Financial instruments
(3.5)
Translation adjustments
0.0
Valuation of stock options
(2.4)
Audiovisual rights amortisation
upon revenues
(3.0)
Revenue recognition measurement
2.5
Business combinations treatment
(7.8)
Acquisition goodwill amortisation
2.8
Tax impact of restatements
1.2
IFRS Net Profit 12/31/2004
Financial income
Interest expenses
Revaluation of derivative financial instruments
Other financial expenses
Net financial income
Net exceptional income
128.8
Annual report 2005
171
NOTE B : reconciliation of consolidated balance sheet at 12/31/2004 (€ millions)
Shareholders’ Equity
Other equity
Total Equity
Minority Interest
Provisions for liabilities and charges
Financial debt and leases
Other non-current liabilities
Total non-current liabilities
Provisions for liabilities and charges
Financial debt and leases
Derivative financial instruments
Trade payable
Tax and social security payables
Other current liabilities
Total current liabilities
Total equity and liabilities
Annual report 2005
(149.4)
140.9
29.2
(20.0)
0.7
14.9
118.2
237.1
296.3
29.2
211.5
892.3
1,235.1
French GAAP
12/31/2004
470.5
0.8
471.3
(0.4)
61.3
10.3
6.0
77.6
458.7
125.6
87.4
671.7
1,220.2
IFRS
Restatements
(29.2)
(0.8)
(30.0)
IFRS
12/31/2004
441.3
441.3
(0.4)
17.4
12.1
46.7
76.2
63.2
33.1
5.9
308.7
201.0
106.1
718.0
1,235.1
(43.9)
1.8
40.7
(1.4)
63.2
33.1
5.9
(150.0)
75.4
18.7
46.3
14.9
471.3
(59.4)
39.5
(0.8)
0.6
(7.5)
1.5
4.9
(6.1)
(7.8)
2.8
2.3
441.3
Management Report
267.6
237.1
155.4
231.5
891.6
1,220.2
French GAAP Equity at 12/31/2004
Treasury shares reclassification
Restatement of treasury shares writedown
Reclassification of government grants
Retirement benefits
Financial instruments
Translation adjustments
Audiovisual rights amortisation upon revenues
Revenue recognition measurement
Business combinations treatment
Acquisition goodwill amortisation
Tax impact of restatements
IFRS Equity at 12/31/2004
Financial accounts
IFRS
12/31/2004
114.6
94.0
86.8
16.0
311.4
31.4
342.8
Legal Information
EQUITY AND LIABILITIES
IFRS
Restatements
86.4
(80.6)
6.3
12.1
2.1
14.2
Financial Report
Goodwill
Intangible assets
Property, facilities & equipment
Financial assets
Total fixed assets
Other non-current assets
Total non-current assets
Current assets
Inventory
Trade receivables
Other receivables
Current financial assets
Cash and cash equivalents
Total current assets
Total assets
French GAAP
12/31/2004
28.2
174.6
86.8
9.7
299.3
29.3
328.6
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements IFRS
ASSETS
Summary of balance sheet restatements
172
Financial Report
CASH FLOW STATEMENT
French GAAP
12/31/2004
IFRS
Restatements
IFRS
12/31/2004
216.0
79.8
0.4
4.0
(1.4)
(1.8)
297.0
(35.1)
39.0
8.2
(3.5)
8.6
(7.6)
(2.2)
(5.5)
4.3
(11.0)
25.7
(16.2)
(3.7)
3.5
9.3
208.4
77.6
(5.1)
4.0
(1.4)
2.5
286.0
(9.4)
22.8
4.5
17.9
(107.5)
-
(107.5)
198.1
(1.7)
(61.8)
(17.9)
(0.7)
(2.7)
(20.7)
1.3
0.2
(102.3)
(5.4)
6.9
1.5
4.0
(35.7)
(86.2)
(0.1)
4.7
-
196.4
44.5
(67.2)
(17.9)
(0.7)
(2.7)
(20.7)
8.2
0.2
(100.8)
(8.8)
4.0
(35.8)
4.7
(86.2)
NET CASH USED IN FINANCING AND LONG-TERM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Relating to continuing activities
(117.9)
4.6
(113.3)
(35.7)
NET CHANGE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
Relating to continuing activities
-22.1
4.4
(17.7)
-
253.6
(24.4)
229.2
231.5
(20.0)
211.5
. Profit from operations
. Depreciation and amortisation
. Gains and losses on disposals
. Income generated by cash balances
. Interest paid
. Other non-cash items
SELF-FINANCING CAPABILITY (BEFORE TAX)
Movements in working capital requirements
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements IFRS
Legal Information
Financial accounts
Management Report
NOTE C : Consolidated Cash Flow Statement 12/31/2004 (€ millions)
Inventories
Trade receivables
Operating liabilities
Transfer of costs to be distributed
NET MOVEMENT IN WORKING CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS
Income tax paid
CASH FLOW FROM OPERATIONS
Relating to continuing activities
Intangible assets acquisitions
Short-term investing activities
Property, facilities and equipment acquisitions
Investments acquisitions
Acquisitions related borrowings
Cash and cash equivalents arising from subsidiary acquisitions and disposals
Disposals of intangible assets and property, facilities and equipment
Disposals/reductions in investments
NET CASH USED IN SHORT-TERM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Relating to continuing activities
Share capital increases
Financing and long-term investing activities
Current financial assets
Financial liabilities
Purchase/disposal of treasury shares
Dividends paid to the parent company, shareholders and minority interest
Cash and cash equivalents - start of year
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS - END OF YEAR
SUMMARY OF CASH FLOW RESTATEMENTS
Cash and cash equivalents - end of year - French GAAP 12/31/2004
Restatement of treasury shares
Other
Cash and cash equivalents - end of year - IFRS 12/31/2004
231.5
(19.7)
(0.3)
211.5
Annual report 2005
173
EQUITY AND LIABILITIES
Shareholders’ Equity
Other equity
Total Equity
Minority Interest
Provisions for liabilities and charges
Financial debt and leases
Other non-current liabilities
Total non-current liabilities
Provisions for liabilities and charges
Financial debt and leases
Derivative financial instruments
Trade payable
Tax and social security payables
Other current liabilities
Total current liabilities
Total equity and liabilities
Annual report 2005
226.2
263.6
155.4
253.6
898.8
1,215.8
(121.5)
136.9
(24.4)
(9.0)
12.0
104.7
263.6
292.3
229.2
889.8
1,227.8
French GAAP
01/01/2004
419.5
0.5
420.0
(1.2)
67.1
46.0
6.8
119.9
426.2
151.5
99.4
677.1
1,215.8
IFRS
Restatements
(26.3)
(0.5)
(26.8)
IFRS
01/01/2004
393.2
393.2
(1.2)
13.1
48.9
51.3
113.3
72.5
1.9
4.3
293.7
208.4
141.7
722.5
1,227.8
(54.0)
2.9
44.5
(6.6)
72.5
1.9
4.3
(132.5)
56.9
42.3
45.4
12.0
French GAAP Equity at 01/01/2004
Treasury shares reclassification
Restatement of treasury shares writedown
Reclassification of government grants
Retirement benefits
Financial instruments
Translation adjustments
Audiovisual rights amortisation upon revenues
Revenue recognition measurement
Business combinations treatment
Acquisition goodwill amortisation
Tax impact of restatements
420.0
(64.1)
39.7
(0.5)
0.0
(3.7)
1.4
8.0
(8.6)
0.0
0.0
1.0
IFRS Equity at 01/01/2004
393.2
Financial accounts
IFRS
01/01/2004
101.7
96.2
91.5
13.6
303.0
35.0
338.0
Legal Information
Current assets
Inventory
Trade receivables
Other receivables
Current financial assets
Cash and cash equivalents
Total current assets
Total assets
IFRS
Restatements
91.0
(75.9)
4.8
19.9
1.1
21.0
Financial Report
Goodwill
Intangible assets
Property, facilities & equipment
Financial assets
Total fixed assets
Other non-current assets
Total non-current assets
French GAAP
01/01/2004
10.7
172.1
91.5
8.8
283.1
33.9
317.0
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements IFRS
ASSETS
Management Report
Summary of balance sheet restatements
NOTE D : reconciliation of consolidated balance sheet at 01/01/2004 (€ millions)
174
Management Report
As part of IFRS 1, the Group has used the following options
in the preparation of its opening balance sheet:
• Business combination prior to 1 January 2004 have not
been restated;
• IAS 39 has been applied retrospectively with effect from
1 January 2004.
30.1. Explanation of the major restatements affectingt
the consolidated financial statementst
Presentation of financial statements
Financial Report
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements IFRS
Legal Information
Financial accounts
Balance sheet presentationt
The other options provided by IFRS 1 have not been used as
they were not applicable to the Group, particularly the options
relative to actuarial differences not recognised in respect of
retirement commitments or to the cumulative translation adjustment that do not apply to the Group (the actuarial differences
were taken to income when they arose; and the Group has no
cumulative translation adjustments in equity in respect of the
translations into euro of the financial statements of foreign
subsidiaries).
In addition, Group did not revalue its tangible or intangible
assets, these were retained at their net value.
Under IFRS, a distinction is made in the Assets and the Liabilities between current items (that are part of the normal operating cycle of a business) and non-current items.
• Deferred tax assets were classified as non-current assets;
• Long-term provisions (retirement benefits, losses by associate companies), deferred tax, certain operating liabilities
(related to contracts or transactions giving rise to deferred
disbursement and at over one year), liabilities for non-current assets in excess of one year and financial debt due in
excess of one year, are classified as non-current liabilities.
In addition, settlement discounts received by a Group subsidiary recorded up to now in finance income have been reclassified as a deduction from cost of purchases. Moreover, provision for customer returns previously treated as a provision have
been reclassified as a sales deduction. The impact of there
restatements has little significance as both amount to less than
€ 1.0 million.
Impact of IFRS 5t
The proposed combination of Vivendi Universal, TF1 and M6
in subscriber television led the Group to present TPS in these
financial statements as operations being disposed.
The 2004 income statement and 2004 cash flow statement
have thus been restated for the TPS contribution.
In addition, balance sheet reclassification, from one heading
to another, were made as a result of the application of certain
IFRS standards.
Changes in Group methods ans principles
Income statement Presentationt
Intangible assetst
The presentation of the income statement was reviewed in
accordance with IAS 1.
Audiovisual rights recorded as intangible assets –
Amortisation in line with income
The application of IAS 38, Intangible Assets, did not lead the
Group to reconsider the method of accounting for audiovisual
rights, only rights purchased with a view to their commercialisation (distribution, trading), produced or co-produced being
recognised as intangible assets.
However, in accordance with IAS 38 that requires that the
amortisation of an asset should reflect the rate at which the
• The items in exceptional income and expense were reclassified to the appropriate heading in the operating results.
• However, the presentation adopted by the Group for the
consolidated income statement remains a presentation by
nature and not function.
Annual report 2005
175
Players of FC Girondins de Bordeaux
In accordance with IAS 38, the acquisition cost of players of
FC Girondins de Bordeaux, initially recorded as deferred charges over the period of contract are recorded as intangible
assets.
The cost of every player is amortised over the period of contract.
This net value is also considered at each closing in accordance with IAS 36, Impairment of assets.
This change had no impact on equity and income.
Reclassification of prepaid charges and deferred income of
€ 10 million for 2003 and € 6.4 million for 2004 to intangible assets.
TPS Market share
According to IFRS 3, a business does not exercise sufficient
control over market share to be able to recognise a separate
asset on the balance sheet. Market shares are thus not intangible assets recognised as part of the accounting for an acquisition.
Annual report 2005
Impact on 2004 equity (before tax)
Impact on income (before tax)
€ millions
(7.8)
(7.8)
Goodwill amortisation
Goodwill has been set at its net accounting value established
on 1 January 2004 and is not amortisation from that date.
Impact on 2004 equity (before tax)
Impact on income (before tax)
€ millions
2.8
2.8
Impairment of goodwill
Although not amortised, goodwill must be subject to impairment tests on a regular basis as required by IAS 36, Impairment of assets.
Since 2003, the Group has applied methods relative to impairment tests in compliance with Regulation 2002-10 of CRC
in respect of amortisation and impairment of assets.
Management Report
IAS 2 specifies that inventories should be recognised on the
date of transfer of full ownership. This is when most of the
risks and benefits arising from ownership of the inventory are
held by the acquirer.
For the Group, this means that the recognition of distribution
rights can only be recorded when these rights are open:
• Rights not open and not yet invoiced are thus reclassified
as off-balance sheet commitments;
• The invoiced part of rights not open is recorded in advances and payments on account;
This change has no effect on equity and income.
A reduction in inventories of € 121.5 million for 2003 and
€ 149.4 million for 2004.
This reduction has a counterpart in an increase in advances
and payments on account € (74.6) million, a decline in trade
payables (€ 99.3 million), an increase in provisions € (20.3)
million, with the difference in tax liabilities (VAT).
The impact on the total off-balance sheet commitments for
2004 was € 84.6 million.
Financial accounts
Paris Première Goodwill
Under French GAAP, liabilities identified as part of the acquisition of Paris Première were recognised with the counterpart
as goodwill.
According to IFRS 3, Business Combinations, certain of these
liabilities do not meet the condition required to be recorded
as a counterpart in goodwill, as part of the accounting for the
Paris Première acquisition.
These liabilities thus constitute expenses for 2004.
Inventoriest
Legal Information
Goodwill
The Group adopted the option provided by IFRS 1 not to restate acquisitions made prior to 1 January 2004.
As a result, no difference has been identified between the
principles applied by the Group and IFRS concerning the
impairment tests of goodwill.
Financial Report
Impact on 2003 equity (before tax)
Impact on 2004 equity (before tax)
Impact on 2004 profit (before tax)
€ millions
8.0
4.9
(3.0)
The M6 Group reclassified the TPS market shares of € 91 million from intangible assets to goodwill
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements IFRS
benefits generated by the asset are consumed, the amortisation of catalogues of audiovisual rights held by SND and TCM
DA were reviewed.
Now, these rights:
• are amortised at the rate of income generated to total
expected income;
• are subject to an impairment test, a loss in value is recorded where the carrying value is higher than the recoverable value.
This method has already been applied to produced or co-produced rights.
Financial Report
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements IFRS
Legal Information
Financial accounts
Management Report
176
Revenue recognitiont
Application of IAS 32 and IAS 39 t
Translation differencest
The principles used by the Group up to now for revenue recognition do not materially diverge from the provisions of IAS
18, Revenue.
The only differences identified relate to:
All derivative financial instruments carried by the Group are
recorded in the opening balance sheet at market value and
the movements in value of these instruments in 2004 were:
• Recorded in a reserve for the cash flow hedges for the
effective part of the hedge
• The ineffective part of the hedge representing the time
points was taken directly to income.
In accordance with IAS 21, The Effects of Changes in Foreign
Exchange Rates,
• The date of recognition of sales achieved by SND as part
of “all rights” sales, this becomes under IFRS the date of
delivery of the material and no longer the date of signature
of the contract or the commitment letter;
• Some nature of revenues of FC Girondins de Bordeaux,
although acquired at the start of the sports season, should
be reported in line with the state of completion of the season.
Impact on 2003 equity (before tax)
Impact on 2004 equity (before tax)
Impact 2004 income (before tax)
€ millions
(8.6)
(6.1)
2.5
Share purchase and subscription optionst
IFRS 2 requires the recognition of a charge (with the counterpart to equity) in respect of the fair value of the benefit granted to employees as part of stock option programmes.
Taking account of the market situation on the dates of grant,
the total charge for the 2004 year was € 2.4 million, recorded in employee costs.
• Translation difference liabilities, which previously had a
balance sheet impact (deferred income) are now reported
as finance income;
• Translation difference assets are no longer recorded as a
provision for liability and charge but as finance costs.
The spot to spot method was used for the calculation of the
effectiveness tests.
Impact 2003 equity (before tax)
Impact 2004 equity (before tax)
Impact 2004 income (before tax)
€ millions
(3.7)
(7.5)
(3.5)
Treasury sharest
The application of IAS 32 requires the reclassification of all treasury shares as a deduction from equity.
For the Group, treasury shares held under a stock option plan
have until now been recorded as an asset on the balance sheet
in the same way as marketable securities and cash.
Reclassification from marketable securities and cash to equity
of € 24.2 million in 2003 and € 19.9 million in 2004.
Impact 2003 equity (before tax)
Impact 2004 equity (before tax)
Impact 2004 income (before tax)
€ millions
1.4
1.5
0.0
Other restatements t
In accordance with IAS 20, Accounting for Government Grants
and Disclosure of Government Assistance, subsidies received from the Centre National de la Cinématographie are no
longer accounted as investment subsidies but as a deduction
from the value of co-production assets.
The Group adopted the option provided by IAS 19, Employee
Benefits, to spread the actuarial differences. Under the accounting principles applied up to now, the Group reported in income
the actuarial differences of the year in which these differences arose.
Annual report 2005
177
Particularly IAS 31, Financial Reporting of Interests in Joint
Ventures, maintains the possibility of proportional consolidation of jointly owned companies.
Provisions for liabilities and charges
Property, plant & equipment
The application of IAS 16, Property, plant & equipment, has
had no impact on the Group financial statements, the Group
having adopted as its current principle a level of analysis and
monitoring of its tangible assets and depreciation schedule of
these assets in line with IAS 16.
The Group applied until 2004 Regulation 00-06 of CRC on
liabilities, the application of IAS 37, Provisions, Contingent liabilities and Contingent assets, had no impact on the Group
financial statements.
A distinction is however made between provisions for liabilities and charges that are current liabilities and those treated
as non-current liabilities.
In order to illustrate the effect of taxation on the movement in
cash, the tax expense (current and deferred tax charge) is
removed from the self-financing capacity, and the movement
in the tax liability is restated from the working capital requirements.
The disbursement for taxation is thus isolated a specific line
item “tax paid”.
For 2004, the net tax disbursement amounted to € 107.5 million. The disclosure of this amount led to an adjustment of
self-financing capacity of € 73.8 million and a movement in
working capital requirements of € 33.7 million.
The major impacts of the IFRS restatements on the cash flow
statement are the following:
• The reclassification of the cost of players of FC Girondins
de Bordeaux as intangible assets and a negative impact on
self-financing capacity of € 1.6 million and a negative impact
on working capital requirements of € 1.8 million and a positive impact an investment flows of € 3.4 million.
• Treasury shares had a positive impact of € 4.7 million on
financing activities.
Annual report 2005
Management Report
The application of IAS 17, Leases, has had no effect on the
Group financial statements.
The review of Group lease contracts did not reveal the existence of finance leases, other than the finance leases which
are already treated in accordance with the standard per the
Group’s former accounting principles.
Financial accounts
As review of the consolidation scope and the consolidation
methods used did not identify major divergences between the
principles applied by the Group in 2004 and those to be applied
under IFRS.
In accordance with IAS 7, Cash Flow Statements, the following restatements were applied to the existing cash flow statements:
Legal Information
Leases
Financial Report
Consolidation scope
30.3. Restatement of casht
flow statementt
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements IFRS
30.2. Standards having no or an immaterial effectt
on the consolidated financial statementst
178
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements IFRS
Legal Information
Financial accounts
Management Report
31. Subsequentt
eventst
On 6 January 2006, Vivendi Universal, TF1 and M6 signed
an industrial agreement with the aim of bringing together
Canal+ group and TPS pay TV activities in France into a body
controlled by Vivendi Universal.
On the creation of this combination, M6 and TF1 will hold
5.1% and 9.9% respectively of the new body, controlled exclusively by Vivendi Universal.
BARBIER FRINAULT & AUTRES
Ernst & Young
KPMG Audit
Département de KPMG S.A.
41, rue Ybry
Immeuble KPMG – 1, cours Valmy
92000 Neuilly-sur-Seine
92923 Paris la Défense Cedex
Commissaire aux Comptes
Membre de la compagnie
régionale de Versailles
Commissaire aux Comptes
Membre de la compagnie
régionale de Versailles
Métropole Télévision S.A.t
This agreement has been submitted to the French competition commission for approval. M6 and TF1 now hold a put
option on their investment in the new entity for the 36 months
following the completion of the transfers to create the new
group, at the higher of the following two valuations:
• 1,130 million (€ 384.2 million for M6)
• The value of experts on the date of exercise of the option.
Registered office : 89, avenue Charles de Gaulle – 92 200 Neuilly-sur-Seine
Share capital: € 52 755 476
Statutory Auditors' report
on the consolidated financial statements
Financial year ended 31 December 2005
To the shareholders of Métropole Télévision S.A. company,
Furthermore, on 1 March 2006, the Group, through its subsidiary M6 Editions, invested in 50% of the share capital of
the free monthly publications Femme en ville and Homme en
ville.
In compliance with the assignment entrusted to us by your General Meetings, we hereby report
to you, for the financial year ended 31 December 2005, on the audit of the accompanying
consolidated financial statements of Métropole Télévision.
The consolidated financial statements have been prepared by the Management Board. Our role
is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audit.
Financial Report
For the first time, these financial statements have been prepared in accordance with IFRS,
as adopted in the European Union. They include, for the purposes of comparison, data for the
2004 financial year that has been restated using the same rules.
Annual report 2005
I - Opinion on the consolidated financial statements
Management Report
179
• Notes 3.5 and 3.10 set out the accounting principles and methods for audiovisual and
broadcasting rights. Within the framework of the accounting principles and methods used by
We conducted our audit in accordance with accepted professional standards in France.
your company, we have ensured the appropriateness of these accounting methods and of the
These standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance
information disclosed in the Notes, and have assured ourselves of their correct application.
consolidated financial statements as a whole, and accordingly contributed to the issuance
and the significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall adequacy
of our opinion in the first part of this report.
of the presentation of information in the financial statements. We believe our audit provides
a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements for the financial year, prepared in
III – Specific verifications
accordance with IFRS as adopted in the European Union, give a true and fair view of the
consolidated financial position, assets and liabilities, and net profit of Métropole Télévision S.A.
We have also performed, in accordance with professional standards in France, the specific
and its subsidiaries.
verifications required by law regarding the information in the Management Board Report.
We have no comments to make concerning the fairness of the information and its consistency
with the consolidated financial statements.
II – Justification of assessments
Paris La Défense and Neuilly-sur-Seine, 04 April 2006
Pursuant to the application of the provisions of Article L. 823-9 of the Commercial Code relative
The Statutory Auditors,
to the justification of our assessments, we bring to your attention the following matters:
Financial accounts
These assessments were made within the framework of our audit, which focuses on the
in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used
Legal Information
An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements IFRS
as to whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement.
• Note 2.3 describes the situations in which the management of your company has used
estimates and put forward hypotheses within the scope of preparing the financial statements.
These estimates and hypotheses concern, in particular, the evaluation and recoverable amount
and the evaluation of trade discounts. Our work involved assessing the data and hypotheses
on which these estimates are based, reviewing the calculations made by your company,
and comparing the accounting estimates for previous periods with the corresponding realisations
and reviewing the procedures for approving these estimates by the management.
KPMG Audit
Division of KPMG S.A.
Frédéric Quélin
Partner
Grégoire Menou
Partner
Annual report 2005
BARBIER FRINAULT & AUTRES
Ernst & Young
Bruno Bizet
Partner
Financial Report
of certain intangible assets and broadcasting rights, the evaluation of pension commitments
180
Management Report
C. Parent company financial statements
I. Balance sheet (€ millions)
Assets
Financial Report
Legal Information
Parent company financial statements
Financial accounts
Note N°
Broadcast rights, licences & concessions
Business goodwill
Other intangible assets
Advances on intangible assets
Technical facilities, equipment & tools
Other property, facilities & equipment
Assets under construction
Investments
Investment receivables
Other equity investments
Loans
Other investments
TOTAL NON-CURRENT ASSETS
Broadcast rights inventory
Advances & payments on account
Trade receivables
Other receivables
Marketable securities
Cash
Prepaid expenses
TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS
Deferred charges
Bond redemption premium
Deferred translation gain
TOTAL ASSETS
3.1/3.2/3.3
3.1
3.1/3.2
3.1/3.2
3.1
3.1/3.3
3.1/3.5
3.1/3.5
3.3/3.4
3.3/3.5
3.5
3.3/3.7
3.7
12/31/05
Gross Amortisation & Depreciation
107.1
100.5
0.2
18.5
14.8
15.6
11.5
0.3
138.8
20.7
19.1
1.6
301.2
147.5
151.3
92.1
230.3
319.0
218.5
22.8
8.1
1,042.1
44.5
1.4
7.3
53.2
-
-
1,343.3
200.7
Net
6.6
0.2
3.7
4.1
0.3
118.1
19.1
1.6
153.7
12/31/04
3.8
1.2
1.3
4.7
105.1
21.2
1.6
138.9
12/31/03
15.1
1.5
1.4
4.0
0.2
124.0
26.0
1.3
173.5
106.8
92.1
228.9
319.0
211.2
22.8
8.1
988.8
217.7
5.7
204.4
279.6
249.3
27.1
2.4
986.2
182.8
0.1
199.2
306.7
270.5
56.5
3.5
1,019.3
0.4
1,142.6
1,125.6
1,192.8
Annual Report 2005
Financial debts from banks
Other borrowings
Advance payments received
Trade payables
Income tax and social security liabilities
Liabilities on non-current assets
Other liabilities
Deferred revenues
TOTAL LIABILITIES
Deferred translation loss
TOTAL EQUITY & LIABILITIES
Financial year net profit (€)
Total assets (€)
Annual Report 2005
12/31/05
52.8
24.2
5.3
13.1
429.0
166.2
3.3
3.3
3.6
3.6
3.6
3.6
3.6
3.6
3.6
4.5
695.1
12/31/04
52.8
24.2
5.3
13.4
416.4
122.4
2.0
636.4
12/31/03
52.8
24.2
5.3
13.1
399.0
105.5
1.2
601.1
25.7
26.2
51.9
46.4
6.8
53.2
70.7
18.1
88.8
31.5
183.0
59.2
10.5
111.1
0.2
395.5
29.9
233.3
52.3
14.1
105.4
0.5
435.5
66.2
222.6
76.0
16.4
120.2
501.4
0.0
0.5
1.5
1,142.5
1,125.6
1,192.8
166,217,030
1,142,524,949
122,396,381
1,125,563,138
105,525,515
1,192,826,381
Legal Information
Provisions for liabilities
Provisions for charges
PROVISIONS FOR LIABILITIES AND CHARGES
Note N°
3.8
3.8
3.8
3.8
3.8
3.8
Financial Report
Share capital
Share premium
Legal reserves
Regulated reserves
Retained earnings
Financial year net profit
Interim dividend
Regulated provisions
TOTAL EQUITY
Parent company financial statements
Equity and liabilities
Financial accounts
Management Report
181
182
Financial Report
Legal Information
Parent company financial statements
Financial accounts
Management Report
II. Income statement (€ millions)
Net turnover
Production capitalised as inventory / as non-current assets
Amortisation, depreciation & provision reversals
Other operating revenues
OPERATING REVENUES
Merchandise purchases (including customs duties)
Merchandise inventory movement
Other purchases and external charges
Tax, duties & royalties
Payroll
Employment benefits
Non-current asset depreciation and amortisation
Non-current asset investment write-downs
Current assets provision charge
Provisions for liabilities and charges
Other expenses
OPERATING EXPENSES
OPERATING PROFIT
Investments financial income
Other interest and related financial income
Provision reversals & expense transfers
Foreign exchange gains
Net income from disposal of marketable securities
FINANCE INCOME
Financial amortisation and provision charges
Interest and related expenses
Foreign exchange losses
Net expenses of disposal of marketable securities
FINANCE EXPENSES
NET FINANCE INCOME
PROFIT FROM ORDINARY ACTIVITIES BEFORE TAX
Exceptional income - operating activities
Exceptional income - investing & financing activities
Provision reversals & expense transfers
EXCEPTIONAL INCOME
Exceptional expenses - operating activities
Exceptional expenses - investing & financing activities
Provision reversals & expense transfers
EXCEPTIONAL EXPENSES
NET EXCEPTIONAL EXPENSES
Employee profit sharing plan contributions
Income tax
NET PROFIT
TOTAL REVENUES, INCOME & GAINS
TOTAL EXPENSES, CHARGES & LOSSES
Note N°
4.1
4.2
4.3
4.4
12/31/05
640.7
44.4
27.4
712.5
86.2
130.7
141.5
44.9
35.7
16.3
9.2
2.1
15.9
27.7
37.1
547.3
165.2
54.7
5.0
1.1
0.6
0.2
61.6
1.1
0.6
1.7
59.9
225.1
0.2
27.0
27.2
26.5
3.5
30.0
(2.8)
2.8
53.3
166.2
12/31/04
612.1
40.0
20.9
673.0
244.2
(33.2)
132.7
42.6
33.6
14.0
12.6
6.2
18.5
4.7
32.9
508.8
164.2
33.6
5.0
19.5
1.1
59.2
22.4
0.9
1.3
24.6
34.6
198.8
4.9
4.8
9.7
24.5
1.3
25.8
(16.1)
2.7
57.7
122.4
12/31/03
589.9
43.9
25.6
659.4
204.8
(18.6)
132.6
42.1
30.9
15.6
16.3
13.2
24.5
3.6
33.0
498.0
161.4
31.6
4.9
7.6
0.5
44.6
28.5
0.6
29.1
15.5
176.9
0.1
0.1
2.4
2.6
0.3
1.4
6.5
8.2
(5.6)
2.9
62.9
105.5
801.3
635.1
741.9
619.5
706.6
601.0
Annual Report 2005
183
0.1
2.1
(20.5)
(5.1)
(3.8)
(23.5)
0.8
8.9
(22.7)
(5.8)
(2.5)
(34.0)
0.7
(41.6)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Share capital increase
Other equity increase
New borrowings
Repayment of borrowings
Dividends paid to Parent Company shareholders
NET CASH USED IN FINANCING ACTIVITIES
(110.0)
(110.0)
(0.3)
(87.6)
(87.9)
(74.2)
(74.2)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents - start of year
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS - END OF YEAR
(44.1)
246.6
202.5
(14.2)
260.8
246.6
13.6
247.2
260.8
Annual Report 2005
(68.0)
86.4
(5.0)
(4.7)
(13.0)
Financial accounts
(10.9)
(49.0)
48.9
(11.0)
129.4
128.9
(154.8)
(42.2)
Legal Information
(32.2)
17.5
(30.5)
(45.2)
96.4
154.5
Financial Report
12/31/2003
105.5
34.9
140.4
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Intangible assets acquisitions
Property, facilities & equipment acquisitions
Investment acquisitions
Cash and cash equivalents arising from disposal of subsidiaries
Intangible assets and property, facilities & equipment disposals
Investments disposals/writedowns
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES
12/31/2005
166.2
(11.8)
Parent company financial statements
12/31/2004
122.4
1.4
17.9
141.7
Financial year net profit
Depreciation, amortisation & provisions charges
Gains & losses from non-current assets disposal
Other items not having an impact on operating cash flows
CASH FLOW FROM OPERATIONS
Movements in working capital requirements
Inventories
Trade receivables
Operating liabilities
Transfer of expenses to deferred charges
NET MOVEMENT IN WORKING CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS
NET CASH FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Management Report
III. Cash flow statement (€ millions)
184
Financial Report
Métropole Télévision reported net profit of € 166.2 million
and total assets of € 1,142.50 million for the 12-month financial year ending on 31 December 2005.
Notes to the parent company financial statements
Legal Information
Financial accounts
Management Report
D. Notes to the parent company financial statements
These annual financial statements were approved by the Management Board on 7 March 2006.
Unless otherwise mentioned, the amounts presented in the
notes are expressed in millions of Euros.
1. 2005 Financial i
year significantiii
significant eventsii
In 2005, Métropole Télévision acquired Société Nouvelle de
Cinématographie for € 13 million.
2. Accounting rules & methodsi
These financial statements were prepared in accordance with
French Generally Accepted Accounting Principles as codified
in law and set by regulation, these being the principles of prudence, a true and fair presentation, and consistency, conforming with the following basic assumptions:
• going concern,
• consistency of accounting policies,
• independence of the accounting period;
and according to the general rules established with regard
to the presentation of annual financial statements.
The application from 1 January 2005 of rulings 2002-10 and
2004-06 of the Accounting Regulatory Committee, relating
to the depreciation and impairment of assets and the recognition and measurement of assets respectively, have had no
impact on the financial statements.
2.1. Intangible assetst
Intangible assets principally comprise computer software and
co-productions.
2.1.1. Computer softwaret
Computer software is amortised on a straight-line basis over
a period of between 1 to 5 years, supplemented by accelerated amortisation where necessary.
2.1.2. Co-production of drama,t
documentaries, concerts,t
programmes and music videost
Once contracts have been signed, co-productions are carried
as off-balance sheet commitments, until the receipt of invoices, which are recorded as advances and payments on account.
Co-productions are recognised as intangible assets upon
receipt of technical acceptance.
Co-production costs are amortised on a straight-line basis
over 3 years and are eventually fully written-off, when it appears
that the present value of future receipts appears insufficient.
Annual Report 2005
185
Investments are recorded at their acquisition costs and a writedown provision is established when justified by their current
market value.
2.3. Broadcast rightst
inventoryt
Broadcast rights are considered as intangible consumables
and are classified as inventory at the date of purchase until
the point at which Métropole Télévision has the right to broadcast the associated programmes.
Purchases are recorded at their purchase cost, net of any discounts and rebates earned but excluding the effect of any
possible settlement discounts.
Annual Report 2005
Furthermore, costs arising from pre-purchase music video
contracts are recorded on the balance sheet as prepaid expenses, which are written off to expenses each time a broadcast
takes place.
2.4. Receivables andt
liabilitiest
Receivables and liabilities are valued at their nominal values.
A provision for receivables writedown is established based on
the risks of non-collection.
Foreign currency denominated receivables and liabilities which
are not the subject of a financial hedge, are translated at their
Balance Sheet data exchange rate. Only deferred exchange
losses are recognized in the Income Statement.
Métropole Télévision holds treasury shares for the purpose of
distribution to employee beneficiaries who exercise their stock
options. The Company also possesses treasury shares within
the framework of a liquidity agreement.
These treasury shares are recorded at their gross book value
as marketable securities. A provision for writedown is established:
• as a Balance Sheet liability when the market price or exercise price is less than their acquisition cost;
• as a Balance Sheet asset when the market price is less
than their acquisition cost, in situations where beneficiaries
have left the plan.
2.7. Provisions for liabilitiest
and chargest
Provisions for liabilities and charges are determined, based on
an individual risk exposure assessment at the year end. Each
provision is valued based on their likely future financial impact,
estimated on the basis of information available at the year end.
Management Report
Financial accounts
3 years
4 years
3 or 4 years
3 or 4 years
5 years
6 years
10 years
10 years
2.6. Treasury sharest
Legal Information
Mobile technical equipment
Other mobile equipment
Technical equipment
Computer hardware
Office equipment
Video equipment
General facilities
Office furniture
Marketable securities are recorded at their gross value. A provision for writedown is established whenever the market value
is less than the acquisition cost.
Financial Report
Property, facilities and equipment are recorded at their acquisition cost and are depreciated on a straight-line or reducing
balance basis. The key periods of depreciation are as follows:
Rights acquired for a single broadcast:
• 100 % of the contract value.
Rights acquired for multi-broadcasts:
• 1st broadcast: 67% of the contract value;
• 2nd broadcast: 33% of the contract value.
A writedown provision is established for broadcast rights relating to programmes which are not likely to be broadcast and
where their value in use is below their net book value.
2.5. Marketable securitiest
Notes to the parent company financial statements
2.2. Property, facilities t
& equipment & financialt
assetst
Broadcast rights are charged to cost of sales according to the
number of broadcasts, in the following manner:
186
Notes to the parent company financial statements
2.8. Provisions fortretire-t
ment benefitst
The provision for retirement benefits was calculated in accordance with IAS 19, using an actuarial method that takes into
account the vested rights of all Group employees and their
most recent salary.
2.9. Advertising revenuest
Advertising revenues are recorded net of commercial discounts.
2.10. Off-balance sheett
commitmentst
Off-balance sheet commitments are essentially comprised of
the following:
• acquisitions of broadcasting rights which had been formally agreed before 31 December 2005, but which were
not open at that date;
• Co-production costs for which technical approval has not
yet been granted ;
• Fees for future broadcasts of existing contracts.
2.11. Financial instrumentst
In order to protect itself against unfavourable exchange rate
movements, M6 covers its principal foreign currency transactions by using simple financial instruments (forward cover).
Hedged transactions are accounted for at their agreed exchange
rate.
Financial Report
Legal Information
Financial accounts
Management Report
Hence, a provision is established equal to the negative equity
amount of subsidiaries.
Annual Report 2005
187
12/31/04
102.1
1.2
103.3
15.4
14.3
0.0
29.7
125.8
21.2
1.5
148.5
281.5
Additions
5.0
0.5
5.5
3.3
1.4
0.8
5.5
13.0
0.1
13.1
24.1
Disposals
1.4
1.4
0.2
0.1
0.5
0.8
2.1
2.1
4.3
12/31/05
107.1
0.3
107.4
18.5
15.6
0.3
34.4
138.8
19.1
1.6
159.5
301.3
Intangible assets essentially comprise co-production rights.
Movements in equity investments in 2005 concern Société
Nouvelle de Cinématographie (SNC).
The € 19.1 million in loans represents a loan granted by M6
to its subsidiary Immobilière M6 for the acquisition of the head
office.
3.2. Accumulated depreciation and amortisationt
Intangible rights
Other intangible assets
Total intangible assets
Technical facilities & equipment
Other property, facilities & equipment
Total property, facilities & equipment
Total amortisation
Annual Report 2005
31 Dec. 2004
Charges
Reversals and disposals
31 Dec. 2005
92.1
92.1
14.1
9.6
23.7
115.8
6.3
6.3
0.9
2.0
2.9
9.2
0.2
0.1
0.3
0.3
98.4
98.4
14.8
11.5
26.3
124.7
Legal Information
Intangible rights
Commercial deposits
Other intangible assets
Advances and payments on account
Total intangible assets
Technical facilities & equipment
Other property, facilities & equipment
Property, facilities & equipment in progress
Total property, facilities & equipment
Equity investments
Intercompany receivables
Loans
Other investments
Total investments
Total non-current assets
Notes to the parent company financial statements
Non-current assets comprise the following:
Financial Report
3.1. Non-current assetst
Financial accounts
Management Report
3. Notes on the parent company balance sheett
188
Management Report
3.3. Provisionst
Provisions in 2005 comprise the following:
31 Dec. 2004
Increases
2.0
2.0
2.9
2.9
Provisions for litigation(1)
Provision for share purchases(2)
Provision for subsidiary losses
Provision for exchange losses
Provisions for social security charges
Provisions for other charges(3)
Total provisions for liabilities and charges
9.0
34.5
2.5
0.4
6.5
0.4
53.2
Provision for intangible assets
Provision for investments(4)
Provision for inventories
Provision for trade accounts receivable
Provision for marketable securities
Total provisions for writedowns
Financial Report
Notes to the parent company financial statements
Legal Information
Financial accounts
Supplementary licences amortisation
Total regulated provisions
Total
Analysis by nature :
Operating
Financial
Exceptional
Decreases
(used)
0.4
0.4
Decreases
(unused)
4.2
0.9
23.3
28.4
1.0
26.3
2.0
-
6.2
20.7
62.5
1.5
8.0
98.9
2.1
15.7
0.2
18.0
154.2
-
31 Dec. 2005
4.5
4.5
2.0
10.2
8.2
2.5
7.4
23.7
52.0
6.2
33.7
0.3
0.7
40.9
-
2.1
20.7
44.5
1.4
7.3
76.0
49.3
69.0
2.0
132.5
45.7
0.0
3.5
42.7
27.3
0.8
0.4
27.7
(1) Provisions for litigation are intended to cover litigation or disputes existing at 31 December 2005
(2) Provisions for share purchases are intended to cover the difference between the acquisition price and the market value of the shares
allocated to employees
(3) Provisions for other charges principally concern the writedown of rights
(4) The provision for investments principally concerns the write down of M6 Foot shares.
Annual Report 2005
189
13.1
52.3
65.4
Invalid rights
31-Dec-05
11.1
141.1
10.2
151.3
11.1
Rights for which there is risk of no broadcast are the subject of a provision totalling € 44. 5 million at 31 December 2005 (see note 3.3)
3.5. Receivablest
Non-current assets
Intercompany receivables
Loans
Other investment receivables
Total
Current assets
Trade receivables(1)
Other receivables(2)
Total
Total receivables
Gross values
Due within 1 year
Due after 1 year
19.1
1.6
20.7
-
19.1
1.6
20.7
230.3
319.0
549.3
570.0
228.6
39.4
268.0
268.0
1.7
279.6
281.3
302.0
Financial accounts
271.8
8.4
280.2
Increases /
Transfers
132.7
50.5
183.2
Legal Information
Increases
Notes to the parent company financial statements
Inventories
Work in progress
Total
31-Dec-04
Management Report
3.4. Inventory and work in progresst
Financial Report
(1) trade receivables are principally composed of advertising receivables
(2) within other receivables due within 1 year is € 28.6 million of recoverable VAT
Other receivables due after 1 year are exclusively intercompany receivables.
Annual Report 2005
190
Financial Report
Liabilities comprise the following:
Notes to the parent company financial statements
Legal Information
Financial accounts
Management Report
3.6. Liabilitiest
Bank overdrafts
Deposits and guarantees received
Trade payables
Income Tax and social security liabilities
Liabilities on non-current assets
Other liabilities
Total
Accrued expenses included within the above:
- trade suppliers
- income tax and social security
- providers of property, facilities & equipment
Gross value
31.5
183.0
59.2
10.5
111.1
395.3
Due within 1 year
31.5
181.5
59.2
10.5
111.1
393.8
Due within 1 to 5 years
Due after 5 years
1.5
1.5
-
113.5
14.4
-
3.7. Cash and marketable securitiest
Cash and marketable securities comprise the following:
Treasury shares
Liquidity contracts (treasury shares and other marketable securities)
Investment funds, SICAV
Cash
Cash and marketable securities
Provision for treasury shares write down
Net cash and marketable securities
31/12/05
25.4
3.1
190.0
22.8
241.3
(7,3)
234.0
31/12/04
60.9
2.9
193.5
27.1
284.4
(8)
276.4
At 31/12/2005, Métropole Télévision had 492,002 treasury shares.
611,530 options have been exercised by their beneficiaries in 2005.
Marketable securities do not include any unrealised gains, as these were realised at 31 December 2005.
Annual Report 2005
191
416.3
122.4
634.4
2
636.4
12.4
(122.4)
(110)
(110) (1)
Additions
13.4
0.3
166.2
179.9
2.9
182.8
Other movements
Reductions
13.4
0.3
13.7
0.4
14.1
12/31/05
52.8
24.2
5.3
0
13.1
429
166.2
690.6
4.5
695.1
Financial Report
(1) Dividends paid on 3 May 2005
Allotment of profit
Legal Information
Capital
Share premium
Legal reservs
Long term capital gain
Other reserves
Profit carried forward
Profit for the year
Equity excluding regulated provisions
Regulated provisions
Total shareholders’ funds
01/01/05
52.8
24.2
5.3
13.4
Notes to the parent company financial statements
The evolution of shareholders’ funds during the period is as follows:
Financial accounts
Management Report
3.8. Shareholders’ fundst
Annual Report 2005
192
Financial Report
4.1. Turnoveri
Notes to the parent company financial statements
Legal Information
Financial accounts
Management Report
4. Notes on the parent company income statementt
TV advertising revenues
Sponsorship advertising revenues
Other revenues
Total sales
2005
606.4
31.3
3.0
640.7
Analysis of sales by geographic region
France
Europe
Other countries
2004
577.1
34.8
0.2
612.1
%
5.07
(10.06)
4.67
95.80%
3.80%
0.40%
Advertising revenues are recorded net of commercial discounts.
4.2. Net financial incomei
Net financial income is composed as follows:
Dividend income from subsidiaries
Interest income from loans to subsidiaries
Marketable securities income
Net charges to provisions for exchange losses
Net charges to provisions linked to financial investments
Net charges to provisions for treasury shares
Exchange differences
Other
Total net financial income
2005
2004
48.5
6.1
5.2
0.4
0.7
0.1
(1.1)
59.9
27.5
6.2
5.0
(0.4)
(0.7)
(1.9)
(0.2)
(0.9)
34.6
Annual Report 2005
193
4.4. Income taxi
The Company has declared itself the parent company of a tax grouping pursuant to Articles 223A and subsequent of the
Income Tax Code.
The tax grouping arrangement adopted by the group is based on non-discriminatory tax treatment.
Each profitable company pays its own income tax charge as if it was independent for tax purposes.
The Company incurred an income tax charges of € 53.3 million for 2005.
4.5. Analysis of income tax by activityi
The breakdown of income tax charges is as follows;
Profit before tax
225.1
(2.8)
222.3
4.6. Other purchases and external chargesi
These predominantly relate to TDF services and advertising payments.
Annual Report 2005
Income Tax
54.3
(1.0)
53.3
Financial Report
Profit from ordinary activities
Net exceptional expense
Profit before tax and employee profit sharing plan charges
Company income tax
2004
3.5
(17.9)
(1.7)
(16.1)
Legal Information
2005
23.6
0.0
(26.4)
(2.8)
Net provision charges (including accelerated depreciation & amortisation)
Capital gain on disposal of the subsidiary M6 DA
Other
Total net exceptional expenses
Notes to the parent company financial statements
Net exceptional expenses are as follows:
Financial accounts
Management Report
4.3. Net exceptional expensesi
194
Financial Report
5.1. Balance sheet and income statement balances at 31 December 2005t
arising from transactions with associated companiest
Notes to the parent company financial statements
Legal Information
Financial accounts
Management Report
5. Other notest
Investments
Receivables relating to investments
Loans
Trade receivables
Other receivables(1)
Other financial debt and liabilities
Liabilities relating to investments
Trade payables
Liabilities relating to property, facilities & equipment
Finance expenses
Finance income
(1)
including current accounts with subsidiaries
Related companies (a)
115.5
19.1
6.8
157.6
25.7
0.5
3.4
156.6
Associated companies (b)
0.8
0.1
0.1
2.2
0.1
(a) companies with which the Company has a greater than 50% equity ownership relationship
(b) companies with which the Company has a 10% to 50% equity ownership relationship
5.2. Share capital compositioni
As at 1 January 2005
Shares issued during the financial year
Reduction in nominal value
As at 31 December 2005
Number of shares
131,888,690
131,888,690
Par value
€ 0.4
¤ € 0.4
Annual Report 2005
195
Due within
1 year
231.7
128.5
60.2
2.9
29.6
1.1
6.3
3.1
-
Due in more
than 1 year
518.2
478.9
2.9
29.6
3.3
3.5
-
Commitments
at 12/31/2004
288.3
107.7
57.3
8.7
88.7
6.0
1.8
0.9
11.5
4.5
1.1
8.2
6.3
2.0
-
8.2
6.3
2.0
-
-
17.0
11.5
4.7
0.8
Commitments received
Liability for partnership responsibilities
Sales commitments
Other
(1) These contracts correspond to services provision. Commitments are valued based on the outstanding amounts due to contract expiry.
(2) Commercial commitments principally relate to rented premises.
The presentation above does not omit any significant off-balance sheet commitments, in compliance with current accounting standards.
Terms and conditions
of implementation
Contract signed
Contract signed
Contract signed
Contract signed
Contract signed
Contract signed
SNC Liquidation
SNC Liquidation
Contract signed
SNC Liquidation
Annual due dates
Notes to the parent company financial statements
Commitments given
Purchase of broadcasting rights
Co-production commitments
Satellite rental contracts(1)
Broadcasting contracts(1)
DTT contracts(1)
Financial commitments
Financial commitments of group companies
Liability for partnership responsibilities
Commercial commitments (2)
Other
Commitments
at 12/31/2005
749.8
607.4
60.2
5.8
59.2
4.4
6.3
6.6
-
Legal Information
At 31 December 2005, off-balance sheet commitments were as follows:
Financial accounts
Management Report
5.3. Off-balance sheet commitmentsi
Nature of temporary differences
Regulated provisions
Tax on non-deductible provisions
Tax on long-term capital losses
Deferred Tax asset (+)
at 12/31/2005
Deferred tax liability (-)
Total deferred taxation
at 12/31/2005
20.9
(1.7)
19.2
The deferred taxation asset has been valued using a taxation rate of 34.43%.
Annual Report 2005
Financial Report
5.4. Net deferred tax assets at 31 December 2005i
196
Financial Report
Total
2.7
Directors’ remuneration
This remuneration, including benefits and variable elements, corresponds to the amounts
paid to the Management Board by Métropole Télévision S.A.
Notes to the parent company financial statements
Legal Information
Financial accounts
Management Report
5.5. Executive Officers remunerationi
6. Consolidation oft
accountst
The Métropole Télévision Company is the Parent Company of a consolidated sub-group. The
company’s financial statements are themselves consolidated by global integration in the consolidated financial statements of RTL Group.
5.6. Average Company workforce sizei
7. Subsequent eventst
The average workforce of Métropole Télévision is composed as follows:
2005 salaried
employees
Permanent workforce
522
Employees
71
Supervisors
127
Managers
230
Reporters
94
Temporary workforce (Full Time Equivalents) 80
Total
602
2004 salaried
employees
453
66
110
196
81
96
549
There have been no significant subsequent events since the Balance Sheet date.
The cumulative hours relating to Individual Rights training in 2005 amounted to 19,380.
5.7. Attendance feesi
The amount of attendance fees paid during the period was 120,000 euros.
Annual Report 2005
197
12/31/2002
12
12/31/2001
12
52,755,476
131,888,690
52,755,476
131,888,690
52,755,476
131,888,690
52,755,476
131,888,690
52,755,476
131,888,690
640.7
612.1
589.9
580.7
569.0
236.2
53.3
2.8
166.2
124.8
205.6
57.7
2.7
122.4
109.7
213.9
62.9
2.9
105.5
87.5
208.4
34.9
2.4
155.8
74.2
239.8
53.7
2.4
141.6
74.2
Earning and dividends per share (€)
Basic earnings per share - profit after tax, employee profit sharing,
before amortisation, depreciation and provision charges
Basic earnings per share - Net profit
Dividend per share
1.37
1.26
0.95
1.10
0.93
0.84
1.12
0.80
0.67
1.30
1.18
0.57
1.39
1.07
0.57
Workforce
Average workforce size
Payroll*
Total employment benefits costs including social security and medicare*
602
31.5
16.3
549
30.0
14.0
549
29.2
15.6
534
26.6
11.3
518
25.8
10.9
Financial results (€ millions)
Sales (ex-VAT)
Profit before tax, employee profit sharing
amortisation, depreciation and provision charges
Income tax
Employee profit sharing plan
Net profit
Dividends paid
Note: Par value of the share was decreased from € 4 to € 0.40 at the AGM of 26 May 2000.
* (in € millions)
Annual Report 2005
Financial accounts
12/31/2003
12
Legal Information
12/31/2004
12
Financial Report
12/31/2005
12
Notes to the parent company financial statements
Financial year end
Number of months
Closing financial year capital (€)
Share capital
Number of ordinary shares issued
Management Report
8. Five year financial results summaryt
198
Financial Report
thousands
Notes to the parent company financial statements
Legal Information
Financial accounts
Management Report
9. Subsidiaries and associatest
Addr ess
Subsidiaries
M6 PUBLICITÉ sas – 89, Avenue Charles de Gaulle – 92200 NEUILLY
M6 FILMS sa – 89, Avenue Charles de Gaulle – 92200 NEUILLY
MÉTROPOLE PRODUCTION sa – 89, Avenue Charles de Gaulle – 92200 NEUILLY
C. PRODUCTIONS sa – 89, Avenue Charles de Gaulle – 92200 NEUILLY
M6 INTERACTIONS sas – 89, Avenue Charles de Gaulle – 92200 NEUILLY
M6 THÉMATIQUE sa – 89, Avenue Charles de Gaulle – 92200 NEUILLY
IMMOBILIÈRE M6 sa – 89, Avenue Charles de Gaulle – 92200 NEUILLY
M6 FOOT sas – 89, Avenue Charles de Gaulle – 92200 NEUILLY
SCI 107 sci – 89, Avenue Charles de Gaulle – 92200 NEUILLY
M6 DÉVELOPPEMENT sas – 89, Avenue Charles de Gaulle – 92200 NEUILLY
M6 STUDIO sas – 89, Avenue Charles de Gaulle – 92200 NEUILLY
M6 CRÉATION sas – 89, Avenue Charles de Gaulle – 92200 NEUILLY
W9 PRODUCTIONS sas – 89, Avenue Charles de Gaulle – 92200 NEUILLY
M6 AFFAIRES sas – 89, Avenue Charles de Gaulle – 92200 NEUILLY
M6 BORDEAUX sas – 89, Avenue Charles de Gaulle – 92200 NEUILLY
M6 TOULOUSE sas – 89, Avenue Charles de Gaulle – 92200 NEUILLY
MANDARIN sas – 89, Avenue Charles de Gaulle – 92200 NEUILLY
M6 OPÉRATIONS sas – 89, Avenue Charles de Gaulle – 92200 NEUILLY
SOCIÉTÉ NOUVELLE DE CINÉMATOGRAPHIE – 89, Avenue Charles de Gaulle – 92200 NEUILLY
Associates
LABO PRODUCTIONS sarl – 89, Avenue Charles de Gaulle – 92200 NEUILLY
SOCIÉTÉ NOUVELLE DE DISTRIBUTION sa – 89, Avenue Charles de Gaulle – 92200 NEUILLY
M6 WEB sas – 89, Avenue Charles de Gaulle – 92200 NEUILLY
MÉTROPOLEST sa – Rue Théophraste Renaudot – 54180 HOUDEMONT
EUROPEAN NEWS EXCHANGE sa – 45 bld Pierre Frieden – 1543 LUXEMBOURG-KIRCHBERG
TCM DROITS AUDIOVISUELS snc – 3, rue du commandant Rivière – 75008 PARIS
TCM GESTION sa – 145 Quai de Stalingrad – 92130 ISSY-LES-MOULINEAUX
Athlételine sas – 2, rue du chemin Vert – 92110 CLICHY
MULTIPLEX R4 (MULTI 4)
N° Siren
Capital
Reserves
and retained
earnings
Share
capital
% ownership
34094903100025
38072740400028
38247713100025
40790865600025
38890945900041
40310510900025
39947635700021
42313378400011
42169913300011
42811522400019
42811529900011
42881567400018
42881563300014
42881585600011
43350336400013
43350341400016
40536317700024
45140640900016
775670623000
50
60
50
50
34,050
41
9,600
18,360
2
40
45
40
50
40
40
40
114
40
882
17
(335)
(349)
(158)
14,496
9,984
2,590
(18,322)
(88)
(48)
(19)
(8)
5
(25)
(112)
(84)
(1,282)
(7)
1,723
99.99
99.98
99.98
99.97
100.00
99.99
99.99
100.00
99.90
99.99
99.99
99.99
99.99
99.99
99.99
99.99
100.00
99.99
100.00
42369616000013
41485722700030
41454946900016
39473579900014
10
14,692
740
40
496
240
40
91
60
7
5,599
76
0
(108)
(3)
37
2
25.50
7.12
6.75
49.88
20.00
50.00
49.88
3.64
16.67
40952892400031
40952934400031
42490517200039
44975397900011
Annual Report 2005
2004
Sales
2005
Sales
2004
Net profit
(Loss)
2005
Net profit
(Loss)
Dividends paid
by the Company
in 2005
38
166
1,150
38
34,007
56,450
9,147
19,128
2
40
45
40
50
40
40
40
2,500
40
13,000
38
38
34,007
56,450
9,147
42
2
40
45
40
50
40
40
40
2,500
40
13,000
8,110
8,798
2,750
94,531
19,105
8,634
7,303
132
6,028
733
914
2,576
-
68,048
1,508
23,310
13,921
108,709
1,616
6,317
1,221
498
3
20,216
80
951
915
489
3,013
69,630
1,860
22,513
15,544
103,020
3,330
6,669
1,311
861
0
11,480
84
839
880
564
2,283
26,630
(799)
46
409
24,982
(3,292)
894
(18,324)
147
(23)
(238)
(2)
644
(4)
(47)
(37)
(938)
(3)
1,634
26,730
(1,693)
(1,632)
31
17,217
1,813
1,139
35
208
2
(143)
(2)
(966)
(2)
(69)
(54)
(1,449)
(4)
1,088
26,784
2
1,650
50
19
100
655
20
305
10
2
1,650
50
19
100
655
20
10
111
26,957
11
9,385
-
262
41,600
31,360
852
4,604
14,571
3
117
48,005
49,765
NC
NC
19,009
1
(2)
(2,358)
8,037
24
32
1,053
-
(64)
(8,544)
10,589
NC
NC
7,674
-
58
55
2
1
Annual Report 2005
19,986
691
Financial accounts
Outstanding
loans
and advances
Legal Information
Book value of
shares owned
Net
Notes to the parent company financial statements
Gross
Management Report
199
Financial Report
543
200
BARBIER FRINAULT & AUTRES
Ernst & Young
Management Report
KPMG Audit
Département de KPMG S.A.
41, rue Ybry
Immeuble KPMG - 1, cours Valmy
92000 Neuilly-sur-Seine
92923 Paris la Défense Cedex
Commissaire aux Comptes
Membre de la compagnie
régionale de Versailles
Commissaire aux Comptes
Membre de la compagnie
régionale de Versailles
An audit also involves assessing the accounting principles used and the significant estimates
made by management, as well as evaluating the overall adequacy of the presentation of
information in the financial statements. We believe our audit provides a reasonable basis for our
Notes to the parent company financial statements
Legal Information
Financial accounts
opinion.
In our opinion, in light of French accounting principles and methods, the annual financial
Métropole Télévision S.A.t
Registered office: 89, avenue Charles de Gaulle – 92 200 Neuilly-sur-Seine
Share capital: € 52,755,476
Financial year ended 31 December 2005
statements give a true and fair view of the financial position, assets and liabilities, and net profit
of the Métropole Télévision S.A. company from the transactions for the financial year then
ended.
Without calling into question the opinion issued above, we draw your attention to the change in
accounting method, explained in Note 2, which results from the application, as of 1 January
General Report by the Statutory Auditors
To the shareholders,
In compliance with the assignment entrusted to us by your General Meetings, we hereby report
to you for the financial year ended 31 December 2005, on:
• the audit of the accompanying financial statements of the Métropole Télévision S.A. company;
• the justification of our assessments;
• the specific verifications and information required by law.
The annual financial statements have been prepared by the Management Board. Our role is to
express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audit.
2005, of Regulations 2002-10 and 2004-06 issued by the French Committee on Accounting
Regulations.
2. Justification of assessments
Pursuant to the application of the provisions of Article L.823-9 of the Commercial Code relative
to the justification of our assessments, we bring to your attention the following matters:
Note 2 explains the change in accounting method that results from the application, as of
1 January 2005, of Regulations 2002-10 and 2004-06 issued by the French Committee on
Accounting Regulations. Within the framework of our assessment of the accounting principles
and methods used by your company, we have ensured, in particular, that this change of
accounting method is justified and that the effect thereof has been correctly calculated and
Financial Report
1. Opinion on the annual financial statements
We conducted our audit in accordance with accepted professional standards in France. These
standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance as to
whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining,
on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements.
presented.
Notes 2.1.2 and 2.3 disclose the Company's principles and methods for accounting for its
audiovisual rights (co-productions) and broadcast rights. Within the framework of our
assessment of the accounting principles and methods used by your Company, we have ensured
the appropriateness of these accounting methods and of the information disclosed in the Notes,
and we have assured ourselves of their correct application.
Annual Report 2005
Management Report
201
These assessments were made within the framework of our audit, which focuses on the
financial statements as a whole, and accordingly contributed to the issuance of a clean opinion
in the first part of our report.
financial statements of the information given in the Management Board report and in the
documents sent to the shareholders concerning the financial situation and the annual financial
statements.
As required by law, we ensured that the various information concerning the acquisition of
shareholdings and controlling interests was provided to you in the management report.
Paris-La Défense et Neuilly-sur-Seine, 04 April 2006
The Statutory Auditors,
KPMG Audit
Division of KPMG S.A.
Frédéric Quélin
Partner
Grégoire Menou
Partner
Annual Report 2005
BARBIER FRINAULT & AUTRES
Ernst & Young
Bruno Bizet
Partner
Financial accounts
We have no comments to make concerning the fairness and consistency with the annual
Legal Information
specific verifications required by law.
Financial Report
We have also performed, in accordance with professional standards applicable in France, the
Notes to the parent company financial statements
3. Specific verifications and information
Management Report
202
BARBIER FRINAULT & AUTRES
Ernst & Young
KPMG Audit
Département de KPMG S.A.
41, rue Ybry
Immeuble KPMG - 1, cours Valmy
92000 Neuilly-sur-Seine
92923 Paris la Défense Cedex
Commissaire aux Comptes
Membre de la compagnie
régionale de Versailles
Commissaire aux Comptes
Membre de la compagnie
régionale de Versailles
Keyser and Mr Rémy Sautter.
Nature and purpose: Acquisition on 29 April 2005 by Métropole Télévision S.A. from the real
estate company Bayard d’Antin S.A. of 100% of the share capital of SNC (Société Nouvelle de
Cinématographie SAS).
Terms and conditions: Price of € 13 million, including cash of € 2.6 million, i.e. corporate value of
€ 10.4 million.
Notes to the parent company financial statements
Legal Information
Financial accounts
Métropole Télévision S.A.t
Registered office: 89, avenue Charles de Gaulle – 92 200 Neuilly-sur-Seine
Share capital: € 52,755,476
Cash investment agreement
Persons concerned: Métropole Télévision S.A. and the real estate company Bayard d’Antin S.A.,
Mr Gerhard Zeiler, Mr Thomas Rabe, Mr Vincent de Dorlodot, Mr Albert Frère and Mr Rémy
Sautter.
Special Report by the Statutory Auditors on regulated agreements
Nature and purpose: Agreement for the investment of cash between Métropole Télévision S.A.
and Immobilière Bayard d’Antin S.A.
To the shareholders of Métropole Télévision S.A.,
Terms and conditions: Métropole Télévision S.A. will deposit an amount proportional to its
financial capacity, while complying with its internal cash management procedures.
As Statutory Auditors of your Company, we hereby present to you our report on the regulated
The aggregate amount that may be invested by Métropole Télévision S.A. shall never exceed
agreements.
more than 20% of its financial liquidities.
The interest shall be calculated on the amount of the investments, namely:
Agreements authorised during the financial year
- for investment periods directly fixed at 1, 2 or 3 months, the remuneration shall be the
Pursuant to Article L. 225-88 of the Commercial Code, we have been informed of the
EURIBOR 1 month, 2 month or 3 month rates + 5 basis points.
agreements that were granted prior authorisation by your Supervisory Board.
- day-to-day investments by Métropole Télévision S.A. entrusted to the real estate company
Our role is not to seek to bring other agreements to light, but, on the basis of the information
Bayard d’Antin S.A. shall be remunerated by the EONIA rate + 5 basis points.
given to us, to provide you with the characteristics and essential terms and conditions of the
agreements brought to our attention, without having to issue an opinion on whether or not these
In respect of the financial year ended 31 December 2005, the investment income generated by
agreements are useful or warranted. Pursuant to Article 117 of the Decree of 23 March 1967,
this agreement amounted to € 17,831.94.
it is your role to assess the interest in concluding these agreements, with a view to approving
them.
Paris-La Défense et Neuilly-sur-Seine, 4 April 2006
We carried out our work in accordance with the professional standards applicable in France.
Financial Report
These standards require that we carry out due diligence procedures in order to verify whether
The Statutory Auditors,
the information given to us is consistent with the original documents from which it is derived.
Acquisition of Société Nouvelle de Cinématographie
Persons concerned: Métropole Télévision S.A. and the real estate company Bayard d’Antin S.A.,
Mr Gerhard Zeiler, Mr Thomas Rabe, Mr Vincent de Dorlodot, Mr Albert Frère, Mr Jean-Charles de
KPMG Audit
Division of KPMG S.A.
Frédéric Quélin - Partner
BARBIER FRINAULT & AUTRES
Ernst & Young
Bruno Bizet - Partner
Grégoire Menou - Partner
Annual Report 2005
2. General information on the Company and its share capital . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
2.1 The Company
2.2 Share capital
2.3 Subsidiaries and participations
2.4 Other information concerning the ordinary financial statements
3 . General Meeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
3.1 Agenda for the Combined General Meeting of 24 April 2006
3.2 Management Board Report to the Combined General Meeting
3.3 Supervisory Board’s comments on the Management Board Report
and the 2005 financial statements
3.4 Audit Report
3.5 Resolutions
3.6 Person responsible for the Reference Document
3.7 Persons responsible for the financial information
4. AMF Reference Document table of contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
Annual Report 2005
Financial accounts
Legal Information
1. Corporate governance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
1.1 Membership and functions of the Management Board
1.2 Membership and functions of the Supervisory Board
1.3 Supplementary information on the membership of the Management Board
and Supervisory Board
1.4 Statutory Auditors
1.5 Report of the Chairman of the Supervisory Board
1.6 Audit Report
Financial Report
Legal
Information
Management Report
203
Management Report
204
1. Corporatet
governancei
The corporate governance rules of the M6 Group conform to
current French standards and recommendations.
Financial accounts
These rules state that by reason of the nature of their function and their duties, the executive management of M6, namely
the members of the Management Board and the Supervisory
Board, may have access to privileged information. ‘Privileged
information’ means particular non-public information (turnover, performance, proposals of every kind, etc.) which, if it
became public knowledge, might affect the price of the M6
share, and more generally its business.
Financial Report
Rules applicable to operations performed on
financial instruments by executive management
The rules governing operations on financial instruments by
executive management are detailed in the company’s Ethics
Charter.
Legal Information
The approach is explained in the Report of the Chairman of
the Supervisory Board (1.5).
The rules prohibit executive management from using such
information on the financial market, either for their own account
or for any other, whether directly or through a third party, by
buying or selling shares or financial products linked to these
shares. They must abstain from communicating privileged
information for any other purpose or activity than that for which
it is held. This also applies to privileged information concerning the ordinary business of the company or the preparation
or execution of any financial operation.
Pursuant to current regulations, executive management is subject to the declaration requirements relating to operations on
shares and restrictions relating to trading periods.
1.1. . Membership and functions of the Management Boardi
Métropole Télévision is a limited liability company with a Management Board and a Supervisory Board.
1.1.1. Membership of thei
Management Boardi
The Management Board is appointed for a period of five years
and has five members, all natural persons designated by the
Supervisory Board who are employees of the Métropole Télévision Group and are aged under 65 years.
Members of the Management Board
Nicolas de Tavernost (age 55)
Thomas Valentin (age 51)
Eric d’Hotelans (age 55)
Catherine Lenoble (age 56)
Jean d’Arthuys (age 39)
1.1.2. Functions of thei
Management Boardi
The Management Board has the widest possible powers visà-vis third parties to act in all circumstances on behalf of the
Company pursuant to Article 18 of the bylaws. Investments
and divestments in excess of € 20 million, however, require
the prior approval of the Supervisory Board.
The Management Board meets as often as required in the
interests of the company.
Principal function within
the company
Chairman
Date of first
appointment
05/26/2000
Date of latest
appointment
2005
Expiry date
of appointment
2010
Deputy Chairman with
responsibility for programmes
Deputy Chairman with
responsibility for management
Member with responsibility
for advertising
Member with responsibility for
digital business and development
05/26/2000
2005
2010
11/14/2003
2005
2010
01/28/2001
2005
2010
05/26/2000
2005
2010
Annual Report 2005
n Outside the M6 Group
• Member of the Supervisory Board of
Ediradio SA
• Director of Antena 3 (Spain)
n Within the M6 Group:
• Director of Extension TV SA, TF6 Gestion SA and Société Nouvelle de Distribution SA;
• Permanent representative of
- M6 Publicité in his capacity as Director of Home Shopping Service SA and
Mister Gooddeal SA
- Home Shopping Services in his capacity as Director of Télévente Promotion
SA
- M6 Numérique in his capacity as
Director of TPS Gestion SA
- Métropole Télévision in his capacity as
Director of the SASP Football Club des
Girondins de Bordeaux and of Paris
Première SA
- Métropole Télévision in his capacity as
Chairman of M6 Publicité SAS, M6
Toulouse SAS, M6 Bordeaux SAS and
M6 Foot SAS
- M6 Thématique in his capacity as
Chairman of M6 Affaires SAS
- M6 Interactions in his capacity as
Chairman of M6 Développement SAS
and M6 Création SAS
- M6 Thématique in his capacity as
Appointments and functions expiring in
the course of the last five financial years
n Outside the M6 Group
• Director of Ediradio SA, Business Interactif and Hotel Saint Dominique (in his
personal capacity)
Thomas Valentini
Appointments and functions
n Outside the M6 Group
• Director of Five SA
n Within the M6 Group:
• Chairman of the Board of Directors of M6
Films SA, Métropole Production SA and C.
Productions SA
• Chairman of Mandarin SAS, M6 Studio
SAS and W9 Productions SAS
• Director of Société Nouvelle de Distribution
SA, Extension TV SA and TF6 Gestion SA
• Permanent representative of:
- Métropole Production in his capacity
as Director of M6 Diffusion SA
- M6 Thématique in his capacity as
Director of TPS Gestion SA
- M6 Films in his capacity as Director of
Paris Première SA.
Appointments and functions expiring in
the course of the last five financial years
n Outside the M6 Group
None.
(1) Pursuant to Articles L. 225-77 and L. 225-94 of the Commercial Code relating to multiple directorships.
Annual Report 2005
Jean d’Arthuysi
Appointments and functions
n Within the M6 Group:
• Director of SASP Football Club des
Girondins de Bordeaux
• Chairman of the Board of Directors of
Home Shopping Service SA and Mister
Gooddeal SA
• Permanent representative of:
- Unité 15 Fulfilment in his capacity as
Director of Télévente Promotion SA
- M6 Thématique in his capacity as
Director of Paris Première SA.
Appointments and functions
n Outside the M6 Group
• Representative of Métropole Télévision;
member of the Supervisory Board of
Newsports SA
n Within the M6 Group:
• Chairman of M6 Thématique SAS
• Chairman and Managing Director of
Paris Première SA
• Chairman of the Board of Directors of
TF6 Gestion and Extension TV,
• Permanent representative of:
- Métropole Télévision in his capacity as
Director of TPS Gestion, C. Productions
SA, M6 Films SA and Métropole
Production SA
- M6 Foot in his capacity as Director
of SASP Football Club des Girondins
de Bordeaux
- Métropole Télévision in his capacity as
Non-Partner Manager of Sedi TV SNC
- M6 Thématique in his capacity as
Managing Partner of Fun TV SNC and
Edi TV SNC
- M6 Thématique in his capacity as
Chairman of M6 Opérations SAS and
M6 Communication SAS.
Appointments and functions expiring in
the course of the last five financial years
n Outside the M6 Group
None.
Catherine Lenoblei
Appointments and functions
n Within the M6 Group:
• Permanent representative of:
- M6 Publicité in her capacity as Director
of M6 Diffusion, M6 Editions SA, M6
Evénements SA, Paris Première SA and
Mister Gooddeal SA
- M6 Publicité in her capacity as NonPartner Manager of Sedi TV SNC.
Appointments and functions expiring in
the course of the last five financial years
n Outside the M6 Group
• Director of Novacor SA (in her personal
capacity).
Financial accounts
Appointments and functions
Éric d’Hotelansi
Legal Information
Nicolas de Tavernosti
Managing Partner of Sedi TV SNC and
M6 Numérique SNC
- Métropole Télévision in his capacity as
Managing Partner of the Société Civile
Immobilière (SCI) of 107 av. Charles de
Gaulle.
Appointments and functions expiring in
the course of the last five financial years
n Outside the M6 Group
• Permanent representative of M6
Interactions in his capacity as Director of
Ticketnet SA and Shapt SA
• Manager of the Société Civile Immobilière (SCI) des Mousquetaires (in his personal capacity).
Financial Report
OTHER APPOINTMENTS AND
FUNCTIONS (1) OF THE MEMBERS
OF THE MANAGEMENT BOARD
Management Report
205
Financial Report
Legal Information
Financial accounts
Management Report
206
1.2. Membership and functions of the Supervisory Boardt
Composition of the supervisory board
Albert Frère (age 80)
Chairman
Gérard Worms* (age 69)
Deputy Chairman
Guy de Panafieu* (age 63)
Member
Gerhard Zeiler (age 50)
Member
Remy Sautter (age 61)
Member
Bernard Arnault* (age 57)
Member
Vincent de Dorlodot (age 41)
Member
Axel Ganz (age 68)
Member
Jean Laurent* (age 61)
Member
Yves-Thibault de Silguy* (age 57)
Member
Ignace Van Meenen (age 37)
Member
Constantin Lange (age 38)
Member
Jean-Charles de Keyser (age 57)
Member
Thomas Rabe (age 40)
Member
Date of first
appointment
May 26, 2000
Date of latest
appointment
2004
Expiry date
of appointment
2008
Date of
departure
Attendance
rate 2005
43 %
May 26, 2000
2004
2008
100 %
February 18, 2004
2004
2008
100 %
March 8, 2002
2004
2008
71 %
May 26, 2000
2004
2008
100 %
February 18, 2004
2004
2008
29 %
March 18, 2004
2004
2008
100 %
March 7, 2003
2004
2008
43 %
February 18, 2004
2004
2008
100 %
March 7, 2003
2004
2008
71 %
January 31, 2006
2006
2008
Not applicable
March 7, 2006
2006
2008
Not applicable
January 26, 2001
2004
-
August 31, 2005
60 %
March 18, 2004
2004
-
March 7, 2006
86 %
Business
address
Cours Bruxelles Lambert
Avenue Marnix 24
B-1000 Bruxelles - Belgique
ROTHSCHILD et Cie
17, avenue de Matignon - 75008 Paris
CALYON
9, quai du Président Paul-Doumer
92920 Paris-La Défense Cedex
RTL Group
45 bd Pierre-Frieden - L - 1543 Luxembourg
RTL
22, rue Bayard - 75008 Paris
DIOR
22, avenue Montaigne - 75008 Paris
RTL Group
45 bd Pierre-Frieden - L - 1543 Luxembourg
AG + J
42, avenue Montaigne - 75008 Paris
CALYON
9, quai du Président Paul-Doumer
92920 Paris-La Défense Cedex
SUEZ
16, rue de la Ville-l’Évêque - 75008 Paris
RTL Group
45 bd Pierre-Frieden - L - 1543 Luxembourg
RTL Group
45 bd Pierre-Frieden - L - 1543 Luxembourg
RTL Group
45 bd Pierre-Frieden - L - 1543 Luxembourg
BERTELSMANN AG
Carl – Bertelsmann- St. 270
D-333 11 Gütersloh - Allemagne
*Independent member
“A member of the Supervisory Board is independent if he has no relationship with the company, the group or its management that is likely to compromise the exercise of his freedom of judgement” (source Bouton report)
Annual Report 2005
At the time of writing the Supervisory Board of Métropole Télévision comprised twelve members, all individuals, appointed
for a period of four years.
Albert Frèret
Number of company shares held: 100
No member of the Supervisory Board was elected by the
employees.
Having considered the position of each member in the light
of the independence criteria laid down in the Bouton Report,
the Board found that at least one third of its membership was
independent according to those criteria, namely Gérard Worms,
Bernard Arnault, Jean Laurent, Yves-Thibault de Silguy and
Guy de Panafieu, none of whom has any relationship with the
Company, its group or its management that might compromise the free exercise of his judgement.
The members of the Board possess great experience which
they make available to the Supervisory Board of Métropole
Télévision.
It is consistent practice that any member of the Supervisory
Board who has a direct or indirect interest in an issue submitted to the Board does not vote on that issue.
Biography and principal functions outside
the company
Albert Frère took an interest in the family business from a very
early age before launching determinedly into industry. Along
with his associates he gained control over the entire steel
industry of the Charleroi region, diversifying production and
modernising equipment. In 1981, in partnership with other
entrepreneurs, he founded Pargesa Holding (Geneva). The
following year the company bought into the Bruxelles Lambert SA group (Brussels). The creation of the Pargesa-GBL
block led to an international business diversifying into three
key sectors: finance, energy/services and (audiovisual) communications.
His honours include the rank of Grand Officer of the Order of
Leopold (Belgium) and Grand Officer of the Legion of Honour
(France).
Appointments and functions expiring in the course
of the last five financial years
• Director of CLT/UFA Luxembourg
• Chairman of the Board of Directors of Electrafina and
Petrofina
• Deputy Chairman and Director of TotalFinaElf
• Director of COPAREX International S.A
• Commissioner of Parjointco N.V., Agesca Nederland
N.V. and Frère-Bourgeois Holding B.V.
• Member of the International Consultative Council of the
Power Corporation of Canada (Canada).
Gérard Wormst
Appointments and functions
• Chairman and Managing Director of the Groupe
Bruxelles Lambert SA (Belgium)
• Chairman of the Board of Directors of Frère-Bourgeois
SA, ERBE SA, Financière de la Sambre and Stichting
AdministratieKantoor Frère-Bourgeois
• Deputy Chairman, Managing Director and Member of
the Management Committee of Pargesa Holding SA
• Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors of Suez
• Director of LVMH SA, Château Cheval Blanc SA, Fon-
Number of company shares held: 300
Biography and principal functions outside
the company
Gérard Worms graduated from the École Polytechnique in
1957 and the École Nationale Supérieure des Mines in 1960
and was Ingénieur en Chef des Mines before joining the Rothschild Group in october 2005. After beginning his career as
advisor to the Minister for Industry, Olivier Guichard, and later
(2) Pursuant to articles L. 225-77 and L. 225-94 of the Commercial Code relating to multiple directorships.
Annual Report 2005
Financial accounts
Current Members of the Supervisory Board
dation ‘FRESERTH’ (Belgium) and the Centre T.S.I.R.A.
Asbl
• Director of the Université du Travail Paul Pasteur
• Member of the International Committee of Assicurazioni
Generali S.p.A. (Italy)
• Member of the Strategic Committee of the Université
Libre de Bruxelles (U.L.B.)
• Honorary Regent of the Banque Nationale de Belgique
• Honorary Chairman of the Charleroi Chamber of Commerce
• Honorary Councillor for Overseas Commerce.
Legal Information
OTHER APPOINTMENTS AND FUNCTIONS (2) OF
THE MEMBERS OF THE SUPERVISORY BOARD
Financial Report
1.2.1. Membership of thet
Supervisory Boardt
Management Report
207
Financial Report
Legal Information
Financial accounts
Management Report
208
to the Prime Minister, Jacques Chaban-Delmas, he became
Managing Director of the Hachette Group and later Managing
Director of Rhône-Poulenc, with responsibility for finance and
the pharmaceuticals business.
He subsequently became Managing Director and then Chairman of the Compagnie de Suez and Chairman of the Banque Indosuez and Chairman of the Groupe d’Assurances Victoire. He is Honorary Chairman of the Association Nationale
de la Recherche Technique and of the Company d’Économie
Politique. As well as being Vice Chairman of Rothschild Europe
he is the current Chairman of Rexecode, one of France’s leading economic forecasters.
Honour: Officer of the Legion of Honour. Publication: Les
Méthodes Modernes de l’Économie Appliquée (Dunod).
Appointments and functions
• Chairman of the Board of Directors of S.G.I.M SA
• Deputy Chairman of Rothschild Europe
• Director of Éditions Atlas SA and Cofide SA
• Member of the Supervisory Board of Publicis SA and of
Médias and Régies Europe SAD
• Censor (Non-Voting Director) of ONDEO Degrémont
SA, Paris-Orléans SA and SIACI SA
Appointments and functions expiring in the course
of the last five financial years
• Managing Partner of Rothschild & Cie Banque and of
Rothschild & Cie S.C.S.
• Chairman of the specialist channel Histoire SA
• Director of Mercapital SA, ONDEO Degrémont SA,
Paris-Orléans SA and SIACI SA
• Censor (Non-Voting Director) and member of the
Supervisory Board of Francarep SA
Guy de Panafieut
Gerhard Zeilert
Number of company shares held: 100
Number of company shares held: 100
Biography and principal functions outside
the company
Guy de Panafieu is Senior Advisor to Calyon Corporate and
Investment Bank, Chairman of the India Committee of Medef
International and Deputy Chairman of the Business and Industry Advisory Committee (BIAC) of the OECD. He was Chairman of the BULL Group from 1997 to 2001.
From 1983 to 1997 he worked in the Lyonnaise des Eaux
group, in various management posts and latterly as Deputy
Chairman and Managing Director. From 1968 to 1982 he
worked in the Ministry of Economics and Finance with various
responsibilities in the department of foreign trade and international economic relations.
From 1978 to 1981 he was a technical advisor to the President of the French Republic on questions of international economics. He is a graduate of the Paris Institut d’Études Politiques, licencié ès Lettres et Sciences Économiques, and a
former finance inspector.
Biography and principal functions outside
the company
Gerhard Zeiler was appointed by Bertelsmann as CEO of RTL
Télévision in November 1998 and continued until March 2003,
when he was appointed CEO of the RTL Group. In November 2004 he decided to concentrate exclusively on his work
in the RTL Group, but returned as CEO of RTL Télévision in
February 2005. In his capacity as CEO of the RTL Group, Gerhard Zeiler is also a member of the Supervisory Boards of M6
France, FremantleMedia and Five (UK).
Gerhard Zeiler began his career as a journalist before becoming spokesman for the Austrian Minister for Education and
the Arts, retaining this position when the Minister became
Federal Chancellor of Austria in 1983.
Then, he became Secretary General of the Austrian public
broadcaster ORF from 1986 to 1990. After two years as CEO
of Tele 5 and another two as CEO of RTL II, he was appointed CEO of ORF in 1994, remaining until November 1998.
Appointments and functions
• Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Gras Savoye SCA
• Member of the Supervisory Board of IDI SCA
• Director of SANEF SA.
Appointments and functions
• Director and Managing Director of RTL Group SA and
CLT-UFA SA (Luxembourg)
• Chairman of the Board of Directors of Magyar RTL
Televisio Zartköruen Muködo Részvénytarsasag (M-RTL
ZRT) (Hungary), FremantleMedia SA, Broadcasting Center Europe SA (Luxembourg) and Channel 5 Television
Ltd (UK)
• Manager of UFA Film-und-Fernseh Gmbh (Germany)
• Member of the Supervisory Board of RTL Television
GmbH, Nachrichtenfernsehen Beteiligungs- GmbH (NTV) (Germany), RTL Hrvatska d.o.o. za uslugue (Croatia)
and Ediradio SA (France)
Appointments and functions expiring in the course
of the last five financial years
None.
Annual Report 2005
Appointments and functions expiring in the course
of the last five financial years
• Director of RTL Nederland SA (Luxembourg)
• Manager of RTL Television GmbH (Germany) and RTL
Plus SA (Luxembourg)
• Mitglied des Beirats (member of the advisory council) of
IP Deutschland GmbH, RTL Enterprises GmbH and RTL
Shop GmbH (Germany)
• Vorsitzender des Aufsichtsrats (Chairman of the Supervisory board) of RTL Interactive GmbH and VOX Filmund-Fernseh GmbH (Germany).
Rémy Sauttert
Appointments and functions
• Chairman and Managing Director of Immobilière Bayard
d’Antin SA
• Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Ediradio SA
• Chairman of Five/Channel 5 Television Group Ltd
• Director of SERC / RTL 2, of SODERA / FUN Radio,
I.P. (advertising agency) and I.P. Régions
• Director of SASP Football Club des Girondins de Bordeaux
• Director of Pages Jaunes SA
• Member of the Supervisory Boards of INSERT and
NAVIMO
• Chairman of the SICAV (Société d'Investissement à
Capital Variable) Multimédia et Technologies
• Director of Taylor Nelson Sofrès Ltd
• Director of Partner Reinsurance Ltd
• Censor (Non-Voting Director) of Thomson and H.G.L.
Gestion.
Bernard Arnaultt
Number of company shares held: 100
Biography and principal functions outside
the company
Bernard Arnault’s chosen career was as an engineer, working
for Ferret-Savinel. In 1974 he became the firm’s Construction
Director, Managing Director in 1977 and finally Chairman from
1978 until 1984, when he became Chairman and Managing
Director of Financière Agache SA and Christian Dior SA. He
then undertook the reorganisation of the Financière Agache
group as part of a development strategy focussing on prestige brand names, making Christian Dior the cornerstone of
the new structure.
In 1989 he became the majority shareholder of LVMH Moët
Hennessy Louis Vuitton, thus creating the first worldwide luxury
group. He became and remains its Chairman.
Financial accounts
• Member of the Management Board of Bertelsmann AG
(Germany).
Management Report
209
Annual Report 2005
Appointments and functions
• Chairman and Managing Director of LVMH Moët Hennessy – Louis Vuitton, SA (France)
• Chairman of the Board of Directors of Christian Dior SA
(France)
• Chairman of Groupe Arnault SAS (France)
• Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Société Civile
du Cheval Blanc (France)
• Director of:
– Christian Dior Couture, SA (France)
– LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton (Japan) KK
Japon
• Member of the Supervisory Board of Lagardère SCA
(France).
Financial Report
Biography and principal functions outside
the company
Rémy Sautter is a licencié en droit and a graduate of the Paris
Institut d’Études Politiques and of the École Nationale d’Administration.
He began his career in the Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations (bank for official deposits) (1971-1981) before being
appointed technical advisor on Financial and Budgetary Matters in the Ministry of Defence (1981-1983). He then worked as Finance Director of Agence Havas from 1983 to 1985
and Deputy Chairman and Managing Director of RTL Radio
until 1996.
Rémy Sautter was Managing Director of CLT-UFA until 2000
and Chairman and Managing Director of RTL Radio until 2002.
Since December 2002 he has been Chairman of the Supervisory Board of RTL Radio.
Appointments and functions expiring in the course
of the last five financial years
• Chairman and Managing Director of Ediradio SA
• Director of Wanadoo SA and M6 Publicité SA
• Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Société Nouvelle de Distribution SA.
Legal Information
Number of company shares held: 690
Financial accounts
Management Report
210
Appointments and functions expiring in the course
of the last five financial years
• Chairman and Managing Director of Montaigne
Participations et Gestion (France)
• Director of:
– Financière Jean Goujon, SA (France)
– Vivendi Universal, SA (France)
– Moët Hennessy Inc. (USA)
• Managing Director of Christian Dior, SA (France)
• Statutory representative of Christian Dior; Chairman
of Montaigne Développement, SAS (France)
• Statutory representative of Montaigne Participations
et Gestion; Chairman of Gasa Développement (France)
and Company Financière Saint Nivard (France)
• Permanent representative of Montaigne Participations
et Gestion; Director of Financière Agache (France).
Vincent de Dorlodott
Financial Report
Legal Information
Number of company shares held: 100
Biography and principal functions outside
the company
Vincent de Dorlodot was appointed General Counsel of the
RTL Group in April 2000. A law graduate, Vincent de Dorlodot holds a Masters in law from Duke University (USA). He
began his career in 1990 as a lawyer with Brandt, Van Hecke
et Lagae (now Linklaters De Brandt). He later joined the Bruxelles Lambert Group as a legal advisor in 1995 before joining
the RTL Group in 2000.
Appointments and functions
• Chairman of the Board of Directors of B & CE SA
(Luxembourg)
• Director of Audiomedia Investments SA, CLT UFA SA
and RTL Group Germany SA (Luxembourg).
Appointments and functions expiring in the course
of the last five financial years
• Chairman of the Board of Directors of FremantleMedia SA
• Director of CLT-UFA Holding SA, LUXAIR SA, RTL 4 Radio
SA (Luxembourg), Sportfive SA (France), IP Polska SP ZOO
(Poland) and Suprafin SA (Belgium).
Appointments and functions
• Member of the Supervisory Board of Gruner & Jahr
• Manager of AG+J and Axel Ganz Communication.
Appointments and functions expiring in the course
of the last five financial years
• Manager of Prisma Presse, PP1 and Femme
• Director of MEDIA Communication and Guide TV.
Axel Ganzt
Number of company shares held: 100
Jean Laurentt
Biography and principal functions outside
the company
A journalist by training, Axel Ganz has worked as Editor in
Chief and Journalist-Manager for the daily press and in magazines (general interest, television and women’s). In 1979, in
France, he set up the Prisma Presse group, now France’s
second largest magazine publisher with some twenty wellknown titles: Géo, Capital, Télé Loisirs, Femme Actuelle, Voici
and Gala, to name but a few. For fifteen years he sat on the
Management Board of the Gruner+Jahr group (the press division of Bertelsmann), with responsibility for international affairs
and for subsidiaries in the USA, France, Spain, Italy, Poland,
Russia and China.
In course of his career he has launched no less than 60 titles
in all these countries put together. In 2005, on reaching the
age limit, he resigned from the Management Board of
Gruner+Jahr and from the chairmanship of Prisma Presse
(Paris) to join the Supervisory Board of the Gruner+Jahr group
in Hamburg.
At the same time he set up AG+J, a joint venture between
the Gruner+Jahr group and himself: he is now directing the
company with view to bringing out a new women’s magazine
for France.
Number of company shares held: 110
Biography and principal functions outside
the company
Jean Laurent is a civil aeronautics engineer (École Nationale
Supérieure de l’Aéronautique) and holds a Master of Science
degree from Wichita State University (USA). Since May 2000
he has been Chairman of the Board of Directors of Calyon,
having been a Director of Crédit Agricole Indosuez (which
became Calyon in May 2004) since 1997. His entire career
has been with the Groupe Crédit Agricole. He was successively Deputy Director of the Caisse Régionale de Toulouse and
of the Caisse Régionale du Loiret before being appointed
Deputy Managing Director of the Caisse Régionale de Paris
et d’Ile-of-France. He joined CNCA as Central Director in 1993
and was Deputy Managing Director from 1994 to 1999. Jean
Laurent was Chairman of the Board of Directors of Crédit
Lyonnais from 2003 to end 2005. He is also a member of the
Executive Committee of the Fédération Bancaire Française
(FBF), of which he was the first Chairman (from January 2001
to June 2002).
Annual Report 2005
Annual Report 2005
Biography and principal functions outside
the company
Yves-Thibault de Silguy holds an advanced diploma (DESS)
in Law and is graduate of the Paris Institut d’Études Politiques
and the École Nationale d’Administration, and joined the Suez
group in January 2000 as a Member of the Management
Board. He was appointed Managing Director with responsibility for international affairs, institutional relations and European affairs in 2001, and Managing Director, Member of the
Executive Committee and Chairman of Aguas Argentinas in
2003. He has been Deputy Chairman for International Development in Suez Environnement since 2004.
His earlier career was in the French Foreign Ministry, the Commission of the European Communities and the French Embassy
in Washington; from 1986 to 1988 he was a technical advisor on European affairs and international economics and
finance to the Prime Minister’s office.
He then joined the Usinor Sacilor group, where he was successively a Director in the Department of International Affairs
and then Director of International Affairs. He was a Member
of the European Commission responsible for economic, monetary and financial affairs, from 1995 to 1999.
He is Minister Plenipotentiary and also Chairman of the FranceAlgeria Committee of Medef and Chairman of the Board of
Directors of the Institut National d’Agronomie (INAPG).
Honours: Officer of the Legion of Honour, the Ordre National
du Mérite, des Arts and des Lettres, and the Ordre National
du Mérite Agricole.
Appointments and functions expiring in the course
of the last five financial years
• Member of the Supervisory Board of Elyo
• Director of Ondéo Services, Sita, Socif 4 (New Caledonia) and Société Générale
de Belgique (Belgium)
• Chairman of Aguas Argentinas (Argentina).
Financial accounts
Number of company shares held: 100
Appointments and functions
• Chairman of Company Polynésienne d’Eau et d’Assainissement – SPEA
• Director of Électricité de Tahiti – EDT, Marama Nui,
Ondeo, Ondeo Degrémont, Suez Environnement, Elyo
and Suez Energie Services
• Member of the Supervisory Board of Sofisport.
• Chairman of the Calédonienne des Eaux – CDE,
Société des Eaux de Tontouta – SADET, (New Caledonia)
• Director of Électricité et Eau de Calédonie – EEC (New
Caledonia)
• Director of Vinci
• Chairman of the Board of Directors of Sino French Holdings (People’s Republic of China)
• Director of Suez-Tractebel (Belgium), Unelco Vanuatu
(Vanuatu), Swire Sita Waste Services Ltd (Hong Kong),
Fabricom (Belgium).
Legal Information
Appointments and functions expiring in the course
of the last five financial years
• Director of Banca Intesa SPA (Italy), Sofinco, Banque
de Gestion Privée Indosuez, Crédit Agricole Asset Management, Amacam and SA Rue Impériale
• Managing Director and Chairman of the Executive
Committee of Crédit Agricole S.A. and Deputy Managing
Director of the Caisse Nationale de Crédit Agricole
• Chairman of the Board of Directors of Crédit Lyonnais
SA
• Associations Loi 1901: Member of the Executive Committee of the Fédération Bancaire Française, the Council
of the Association Française des Banques et de ParisEuroplace, and the Bureau de l’Association Française des
Ets de Crédits et des Entreprises d'Investissements
• Deputy Chairman of Pacifica, Prédica and Banca Intesa
• Chairman and Director of the Management Committee
of CEDICAM
• Director and Chairman of the Union d’Études et d’Investissement and Segespar
• Member of the Conseil National du Crédit et du Titre.
Yves-Thibault de Silguyt
Financial Report
Appointments and functions
• Director and Deputy Chairman of Banco Espirito Santo
SGPS (Portugal)
• Chairman of the Board of Directors of CALYON SA
• Member of the Supervisory Board and of the Finance
Committee of Eurazeo SAD
• Director and member of the Remuneration and appointments Committee of Groupe Danone SA
• Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Institut Europlace de Finance (Association Loi 1901).
Management Report
211
Management Report
212
Members of the Supervisory Board whose
co-option is subject to ratification
by the General Meeting of Shareholders
Ignace Van Meenent
• Chairman and Managing Director of RAG BeteiligungsGmbH and RAG Projektgesellschaft mbH.
Appointments and functions expiring in the course
of the last five financial years
None.
Number of company shares held: 100
Financial Report
Legal Information
Financial accounts
Constantin Langet
Biography and principal functions outside
the company
Ignace Van Meenen holds a doctorate in law from the University of Osnabrück in Germany. He began his professional career
in 1994 with Deutsche Bank in Düsseldorf (Germany), where
he held a number of senior management posts before being
appointed Deputy Chairman Corporate Finance International
of Deutsche Bank Securities in New York in 1997. In 1999
he joined RAG AG, an international, mainly energy- and chemicals-based group, as Senior Deputy Chairman and Group
Finance Director. In 2001 he was appointed Chairman of RAG
Beteiligungs-GmbH, the holding company of RAG AG. He joined the RTL Group in January 2006 as CFO and Head of
Corporate Center.
Appointments and functions
• Chairman of the Board of Directors of Media-Assurances SA (Luxembourg)
• Deputy Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Ediradio
SA (France)
• Member of the Supervisory Board of RTL Télévision
GmbH (Germany)
• Manager of RTL Group Deutschland Gmbh (Germany)
• Director of Immobilière Bayard d’Antin SA (France),
Audiomédia Investments SA (Belgium), CLT-UFA SA,
FremantleMedia SA and RTL Group Germany SA
(Luxembourg)
Number of company shares held: 100
Biography and principal functions outside
the company
After studying economics in France and Germany, Constantin Lange gained an MBA from the Massachusetts Institute
of Technology. In 1993 he began his career with Bertelsmann
as an assistant in the Business Development Department at
Gütersloh. After a stint as Project Leader in UFA, Hamburg,
and Office Manager for the Chairman, at the beginning of
1997 he was appointed Head of the Ongoing Pay TV department. In October 1997 he became Deputy Chairman Business Development for TV International. In May 1999 he completed his doctoral thesis for the University of Hohenheim. In
March 2000 he was appointed General Secretary and Member of the Management Committee of RTL Television in Cologne, with responsibility for the Legal, Acquisitions, Programme
Sales and Human Resources departments. In March 2003
he was appointed CEO of RTL Interactive GmbH, the internet and digital business subsidiary of RTL Television. He is
also responsible for RTL Shop, Universum Film, RTL Enterprises and RTL media services.
Appointments and functions
• Chairman of the Advisory Committee (Beirat) of RTL
Shop GmbH, RTL Enterprises GmbH and Universum
Film GmbH
• Manager of RTL Interactive GmbH, Traumpartner TV
and RTL Media Services
• Member of the Supervisory Board of Starbet Holding AG
• Member of the Management Board of RTL Television
GmbH.
Appointments and functions expiring in the course
of the last five financial years
• Member of the Advisory Committee (Beirat) of IP
Deutschland GmbH, MMC (Magic Media Company TVProduktionsgesellschaft mbH) and VOX Film-und-Fernseh GmbH & Co. KG
• Chairman of the Advisory Committee (Beirat) of RTL
Interactive GmbH.
Resigning Members of the Supervisory Board
Thomas Rabet
Biography and principal functions outside
the company
Thomas Rabe holds a doctorate in economics and is a graduate of the University of Cologne. He began his career in
1989 with the European Commission in Brussels. From 1990
to 1996 he held various senior posts in Forrester Norall & Sutton (now White & Case) in Brussels and later in the State Privatisation Agency (Treuhandanstalt) and with a risk capital
fund in Berlin. In 1996 he joined Cedel International (Clearstream after its merger with Deutsche Börse Clearing), where
he was appointed CFO and a Member of the Management
Committee in 1998. In 2000 he became CFO and a Member of the Executive Committee of the RTL Group. In March
2003 he was appointed Head of Corporate Center and put
in charge of the Luxembourg activities of the RTL Group. Since
2006 he has been CFO and Head of the Corporate Center
of Bertelsmann AG.
Annual Report 2005
Appointments and functions expiring in the course
of the last five financial years
• Chairman of the Board of Directors of CLT-UFA Holding S.A (Luxembourg), SportFive SA (France) and Tha-
Annual Report 2005
Biography and principal functions outside
the company
Jean-Charles de Keyser has been contributing to the development of TV networks and radio stations in Belgium since
the early 1980s, first as a journalist in Brussels for RTL Radio
France, then as Information Officer of RTL Television, and
finally as CEO of RTL TVI in Brussels (1985).
From 1987 to 2000 he was a Member of the Conseil Supérieur de l’Audiovisuel Belge. He was appointed Executive
Deputy Chairman of Bel RTL in 1992, Deputy Managing Director of TPS en France in 1996, and in 1997 CEO of RTL KLUB
in Hungary, where he directed the launch of this new network
with a team from the RTL Group.
At the end of 1999 he became Executive Deputy Chairman
of TV Benelux, Eastern Europe and Radio and in this capacity became Chairman of the Board of Directors of RTL Nederland, RTL Klub, and RTL Televizija (Croatia) and a Member of
the Supervisory Board of BCE, RTL TVI, Bel RTL, M6 and RTL
Radio (France).
He left the RTL Group on 1 September 2005 and now directs
Appointments and functions
• Chairman of the Board of Directors of RTL Nederland
SA, Telesparks SA (Luxembourg) and RTL Hrvatska
d.o.o. za uslugue (Croatia)
• Director of Broadcasting Center Europe SA, CLT-UFA
SA, Filmlux SA, IPN SA, RTL 4 Finance SA (Luxembourg), Inadi SA, TVI SA (Belgium), Magyar RTL Televisio
Zärtköruen Muködo Részvénytarsasag (M-RTL ZRT)
(Hungary), Radio Advertising Benelux BV, RTL 4 Beheer
BV, RTL FM BV and Yorin TV BV (Netherlands)
• Member of the Supervisory Board of Ediradio SA (France)
• Representative of Immobilière Bayard d’Antin SA
(France), Director of IP France SA (France); representative of Yorin TV BV, Director of Yorin FM BV (Netherlands).
Appointments and functions expiring in the course
of the last five financial years
• Chairman of the Board of Directors of RTL Nederland
SA, Telesparks SA (Luxembourg), IP Belgium (Belgium)
and Magyar RTL Televisio Zärtköruen Muködo Részvénytarsasag (M-RTL ZRT) (Hungary)
• Director of Paradigm Ltd, Thames Cable and Satellite
Services Ltd (UK), Immobilière Bayard d’Antin SA
(France), Blue Circle BV and Spott Holding BV (Netherlands), VCF SA, VCB SA, Belga Films SA, Belga Home
Vidéo SA, Contact SA (Belgium), Monégasques
des Ondes SA, RTL 9 SA (Luxembourg)
• Member of the Management Committee of RTL
Hrvatska d.o.o. za uslugue.
Financial accounts
Jean-Charles de Keysert
BelgacomTV operations as Executive Chairman of the Board
of Directors of Skynet.
Legal Information
mes Cable and Satellite Services Ltd (UK)
• Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors of RTL
Group Central & Eastern Europe SA (Luxembourg)
• Director of CLT Multi Media GmbH (Germany), MediaAssurances SA, RTL Plus SA, RTL Nederland SA, Studio
Luxembourg SA (Luxembourg) and RTL 4 Beheer BV
(Netherlands)
• Manager of CLT Media Services GmbH, RTL Group
Verwaltungs und Holding GmbH, RTL Television GmbH
and Radio Center Berlin GmbH (RCB) (Germany)
• Representative of B & CE SA, Director of Immobilière
Bayard d’Antin SA (France).
Financial Report
Appointments and functions
• Chairman of the Board of Directors of Broadcasting
Center Europe SA, RTL Group Central & Eastern Europe
SA and Media-Assurances SA (Luxembourg)
• Deputy Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Ediradio
SA (France)
• Member of the Supervisory Board of RTL Hrvatska
d.o.o.za uslugue (Croatia)
• Director of Media Holding REN TV (Russian Federation); Antena 3 de Televisión SA (Spain); Channel 5 Television Group Ltd (UK); Audiomédia Investments SA; TVI
SA (Belgium); CLT-UFA SA; Fremantle-Media SA; RTL
Group Germany SA (Luxembourg) and Sport Five SA
(France)
• Manager of CLT Multi Media GmbH, RTL Group Vermögensverwaltung GmbH, RTL Group Deutschland Gmbh
and UFA Film und Fernsehen GmbH (Germany)
• Member of the Management Committee of S5 SàRL
(Luxembourg)
• Member of the Council of the Edmond Israël Foundation
• Member of the Management Board of Bertelsmann AG
• Managing Director of Reinhard Mohn GmbH and Bertelsmann TV Beteiligungs GmbH
• Chairman of Media Communication SAS
• Chief Financial Officer, Director and Member of the
Executive Committee of Bertelsmann Inc.
• Director of Bertelsmann Capital Corporation N.V.
• Member of the Consultative Committee of Bertelsmann
Ventures L.P. and BV Capital Fund II-A L.P.
• Member of the Council of Representatives of Sony
BMG Management Co. LLC.
Management Report
213
Financial Report
Legal Information
Financial accounts
Management Report
214
1.2.2. Functions of thet
Supervisory Boardt
The Supervisory Board exercises permanent control over the
management of the Company by the Management Board and
grants the latter the prior approval for operations that it may
not perform without such authorisation.
Throughout the year, the Supervisory Board performs whatever verifications and checks it considers appropriate and may
call for any documents it requires to fulfil its tasks.
Internal regulations
At its first meeting on 26 May 2000, the Supervisory Board
adopted its own internal regulations to detail and complete
the Company bylaws so that they now cover its own organisation and functions.
Reaffirming its commitment to corporate governance, the
Supervisory Board, at its meeting on 30 April 2003, completed its own internal regulations to ensure it has the ability and
resources to operate efficiently in the service of the Company
and its shareholders.
The internal regulations of the Supervisory Board and its committees cover in particular:
- arrangements for Board meetings,
- how the Board exercises its powers,
- membership of Board committees, ie the Audit Committee and the Remuneration and appointments Committee,
- the purpose and attributions of the Board committees.
Self-Assessment by the Supervisory Board
The Board reviews its own modus operandi once a year at
one of its meetings.
At its meeting on 7 March 2006, when the Board reviewed
its own operations, it was satisfied that it had the necessary
independence to perform its tasks, that members’ contributions to its deliberations were of high quality, and that the Audit
Committee and the Remuneration and appointments Committee were operating satisfactorily.
The information available to Board members is satisfactory,
owing chiefly to the quality of the quarterly operating report
from the Management Board and the attendance of Management Board members at meetings which provide a detailed insight into the Group’s operations.
The expert knowledge and experience of the members of the
Supervisory Board are specified elsewhere this Report, along
with the positions they hold in other companies.
The Supervisory Board meets as often as required in the interests of the Company and at least once in every quarter.
It met seven times in 2005 and the overall attendance rate
was 75 %.
Company shares held by members of the
Supervisory Board
In accordance with Company bylaws, the members of the
Supervisory Board of Métropole Télévision must each hold at
least 100 shares in the Company.
At present the Board members directly and collectively hold
2,000 shares in the Company, representing 0.001 % of the
share capital.
Directors’ fees
The Combined General Meeting on 28 April 2004 allocated
€ 120,000 for attendance fees to be shared among the members of the Supervisory Board in respect of 2004 and thereafter until decided otherwise.
In 2005 attendance fees were allocated as follows:
Actual allocation
of attendance fees 3
Chairman of the Supervisory Board
¤ 18,000
Committee chairmen (2)
¤ 12,000
Committee members (3)
¤ 10,000
Other Supervisory Board members (6)
¤ 8,000
TOTAL
¤ 18,000
¤ 24,000
¤ 3 0,000
¤ 4 8,000
120,000
The Management Report details the attendance fees actually
paid to individual members of the Supervisory Board (see paragraph 10.7.4 of the Management Report).
1.2.3. Committees of thet
Supervisory Boardt
The Supervisory Board has two committees:
Audit Committee
The Audit Committee, first set up in 2000, has a minimum
of three and a maximum of five members chosen by the
Supervisory Board from among its own members. It meets
at least twice a year and has the following responsibilities:
• to review the annual financial statements and the Group’s
interim and preliminary results,
• to consider proposals for the appointment and remuneration of the statutory auditors and examine their conclusions.
The Committee met three times in 2005 and the overall
attendance rate was 100 %.
3 Attendance fees are allocated to members (current or resigned) pro rata of the period spent on duties over the financial year.
Annual Report 2005
215
Attendance
rate 2005
100 %
100 %
Not applicable
7 March 2006
100 %
Management Report
Date of departure
* Independent Member - ** Resigning
In 2005 the work of the Committee included:
• scrutiny of the financial statements,
• the assignments and fees of the statutory auditors and
consultants,
• the financial statements as at 30 June 2005,
• the application of the Financial Security Law and
internal controls,
• the new international accounting standards (IFRS),
• review of the audiovisual rights portfolio,
• regulatory developments.
In course of this work the Committee consulted with the statutory auditors, the Financial Director, and the Accounting and
Management Control departments.
To ensure that the Audit Committee is working efficiently, a
detailed file is prepared by the Company’s financial staff corresponding to the agenda for each meeting.
The Audit Committee makes recommendations to the Management Board regarding financial reporting.
The Audit Committee presents the conclusions of its deliberations to the Supervisory Board at the meetings to discuss
the half-yearly and annual financial statements.
Remunerations Committee
The Remuneration and Appointments Committee, first set up
in 2000, has a minimum of two and a maximum of five members appointed by the Supervisory Board from among its own
membership. It meets at least once a year to:
• make proposals for the remuneration of members of the
Supervisory Board and of the Management Board;
• examine the proposal(s) for the allotment of stock options
and free shares to members of the Management Board
and executives;
• ensure that the independance of the Supervisory Board
is effective.
As in previous years, the Remuneration Committee approved
the principle and practice of the remuneration of the Chairman and Members of the Management Board.
For each of its meetings, the Remuneration and appointments
Committee is provided with a file prepared by the Company
to give the clearest possible insight into the implications of its
decisions.
The Committee met three times in 2005 with a 100% attendance rate.
At these meetings the Committee drafted a proposal to the
Supervisory Board for the allotment of stock options and approved the list of recipients as at 28 April 2004.
Members of the Remuneration and
appointments Committee
Gérard Worms*
Gerhard Zeiler
* Independent member
Annual Report 2005
For the first time, the Committee examined the procedure for
allotting free shares authorised by the General Meeting of
Shareholders on 28 April 2005 and approved the allotment
plan prepared by the Management Board.
Date of first
appointment
Chairman
Member
Expiry date of
appointment
26 May 2000
30 April 2003
Date of departure
2008
2008
Attendance
rate 2005
100 %
100 %
Financial accounts
Chairman
Member
Member
Member
Expiry date of
appointment
2008
2008
2008
Legal Information
Guy de Panafieu*
Rémy Sautter
Ignace Van Meenen
Thomas Rabe**
Date of first
appointment
18 February 2004
26 May 2000
7 March 2006
18 March 2004
Financial Report
Members of the Audit Committee
Legal Information
Financial accounts
Management Report
216
1.3. Supplementary information on the membershipt
of the Management Board and Supervisory Boardt
To the best of the Company’s knowledge, no member of the
Management Board or Supervisory Board, and no company of
which any member of the Management Board or Supervisory
Board is an agent, general partner or founder, or in which any
such member is in any way involved with administration, management or supervision, has been found guilty of fraud, or been
subjected to proceedings for bankruptcy, sequestration and/or
liquidation, or found guilty of any offence and/or subjected to
any public official sanction by any statutory or regulatory authority (including the relevant professional associations), or to any
impediment, in the course of the last five years.
To the best of the Company’s knowledge, there is:
• no family connection between any members of the Management Board and of the Supervisory Board,
• no potential conflict of interest (as regards the issuer) bet-
1.4. Statutory Auditorst
Address
CURRENT AUDITORS
KPMG Audit
Financial Report
ween the duties of any member of the Management Board
or the Supervisory Board and their own private interests and
other duties,
• no arrangement or agreement between any member of
the Management Board or of the Supervisory Board and
any of the major shareholders, clients or suppliers,
• no restriction on the sale by any member of the Management Board or of the Supervisory Board, within any particular period of time, of their holding in the Group’s share capital, except the rules for the repression of insider dealing and
(for members of the Supervisory Board) their statutory obligation to hold at least 100 shares in the Company for the
duration of their appointment,
• no service contract between any member of the Management Board or Supervisory Board of METROPOLE TELEVISION and any of its subsidiaries.
Frédéric QUELIN
BARBIER FRINAULT Bruno BIZET
& Autres
Ernst & Young
ALTERNATE AUDITORS
Guillaume LIVET
Pascal MACIOCE
Date of first
appointment
Expiry date of
appointment
2 bis, rue de Villiers - Les Hauts de Villiers
92300 Levallois-Perret
41, rue Ybry
92200 Neuilly-sur-Seine
2001(1)
2011
2002
2008
1, cours Valmy
92923 Paris-La Défense Cedex
41, rue Ybry
92576 Neuilly-sur-Seine Cedex
2001(2)
2011
2002
2008
(1) replacing Peronnet & Associés on its resignation (2) replacing Mr Marcel Peronnet on his resignation
Annual Report 2005
A. CONTROL OF MANAGEMENT ACTS AND
PERFORMANCE OF OPERATIONS
The Métropole Télévision Group is determined that
management acts and the performance of operations,
and the conduct of its employees, will remain within
the framework defined by:
• the guidance given to Group activities not merely by applicable law and regulation but also by group-internal values,
standards and rules;
• the specific requirements of each of the Group’s main
business units, viz. Free to Air Television, Digital Television
and Diversification;
• the existence of certain functional activities performed
across the entire Group. Responsibility for these functions
lies with a team of experts in each business unit.
The internal control procedures can be presented in accordance with the guidelines of the Committee of Sponsoring
Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).
Annual Report 2005
The Métropole Télévision Group has set up an internal control
environment for its activities based on:
• fundamental values enshrined in an Ethics Charter which
defines and implements the professional standards to be
respected by the Group’s managers and staff with regard
to their own conduct and to the choices they make in course
of their work;
• separation between Company management and its supervision ensured by giving the Company the legal form of a
limited liability company with a Management Board and
Supervisory Board;
• careers and human resources management grounded in
skills development and the encouragement of new talent;
• the work and organisation of management is based on:
— management and control styles appropriate to the specific market to which each department relates:
- programmes to ensure control of costs and content
risks;
- advertising strategy to ensure quality partnerships
and consistent marketing appropriate to programme
schedules;
- diversification to ensure high-quality partnership and pursue the development de labels created by the network;
- technique focussing on reliability and security.
— the managers of each business are responsible, under
the supervision of the Management Board of Métropole
Télévision, for the conduct of business and the operating
• a system of delegation of powers within the Group to
ensure that operations are conducted efficiently and that
the decision-making process respects the company’s corporate governance rules. The delegation of powers is set
for each company in the Group in accordance with the guidelines laid down by Métropole Télévision and the principles of corporate governance applicable to (inter alia) listed companies.
b) Risk assessment t
The Métropole Télévision Group has developed an approach
to identifying and analysing risks and ensuring that the main
risks are adequately controlled in view of the nature of its business and its objectives.
To this end, the Group has mapped all the operational and
functional risks.
The work, which was outsourced, involved obtaining from each
member of the Group’s Executive Committee, and from the
main heads of departments, an assessment of the operational, technical, legal and financial risks they were called upon
to manage in the course of their daily business.
These risks were then classified in order of their quantitative
impact on the Group’s financial statements.
Action plans are regularly submitted to the Management Board
so that it can modify existing procedures and check their effi-
Financial accounts
1.5.1. Company’s objectivest
regarding internal controlt
procedurest
a) Control environmentt
Legal Information
Pursuant to Article L.225-68 of the Commercial Code, I am
pleased to introduce this report on the planning and organisation of the work of the Supervisory Board of METROPOLE
TELEVISION SA (hereafter ‘the Company’) and on the Company’s internal control procedures.
results within the overall framework of defined objectives. The Management Board of Métropole Télévision
meets once a week to direct and monitor the activities
of the Group in each business unit.
Financial Report
1.5. . Report of the Chairman of the Supervisory Boardt
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Management Report
218
ciency. These plans are prepared by order of priority with regard
to the financial impact on the Group.
This approach depends on operational and functional employees
who:
• develop a risk management process to improve risk analysis and the consequent decision- making;
• report their analyses and recommendations to Group management.
Strategic decisions and major risk analyses are examined by
the Company and the Management Board takes account of
the recommendations in its decision-making.
c) Controlst
The aim of the Métropole Télévision Group’s internal control
systems is to ensure that directives are applied within the
Group and that the necessary action is taken to attain the predetermined objectives. It is based on a set of policies and procedures determined either by the management of Métropole
Télévision or within each business unit.
• internal control procedures in areas for which the management of Métropole Télévision is responsible are determined by functional management at Head Office. The main
departments concerned are Programming, Finance, Human
Resources, Communications, Strategy and Development,
Legal, and Technical;
• internal control procedures in the sales and marketing
area are determined, implemented and monitored chiefly
by the management and staff of the subsidiaries depending on the requirements and special needs of each business unit, in particular advertising and diversification.
The internal controls have been strengthened by the appointment of a Risk Manager who will co-ordinate the controls
within the Group in accordance with the action plan laid down
by the Management Board.
d) Information and communicationt
In order to control and analyse the effectiveness of its operations, the Métropole Télévision Group has set up:
• an information system to gather key data;
• communication channels enabling employees to exchange
information as necessary for the performance of their work.
In 2004 the mapping project included the development of a
descriptive and risk assessment grid. This now serves as a
tool for obtaining and communicating information on internal
controls. It is continually updated to reflect the advancement
of the action plans.
e) Monitoringt
The Group is progressively integrating an approach to assessing quality internal controls over time:
• the medium-term plan, annual budget and targets are
determined by the Executive Committee in accordance with
the overall strategy laid down by the Management Board;
• the plan, budget and targets are reviewed once a month
at every level in the Group, based mainly on operational and
financial data.
B. QUALITY OF ACCOUNTING, FINANCIAL
AND MANAGEMENT INFORMATION
The accounting, financial and management information reported to the Company’s Management and
Supervisory Boards:
• is based on a set of systems and procedures widely used
within the Group,
• gives a true and fair view of the Company’s activities and
financial situation.
This set of tools and procedures is designed to provide management with the information it needs to anticipate and manage
risks attaching to the Company’s activities and the risk of error
and fraud, particularly in the areas of accounting and finance.
The nature, scope, form and frequency of information to be
reported at Group level by subsidiaries and departments is
determined by Group Finance Management, which sets standards for financial reporting, accounting standards and procedures, performance indicators and standardised consolidation packages.
In 2005 the IFRS standards migration plan further contributed to a detailed analysis of the processes and content of
financial reporting.
Annual Report 2005
a) The individuals and structures involved in controlt
activities: their roles and general operationt
a-1 Corporate governance :
forms and approaches
The Management Board meets once a week. All meetings
are reported. Only the obligatory resolutions taken by majority vote are minuted; the minutes are signed by the members attending the meeting.
The Management Board has the widest possible powers
vis-à-vis third parties to act in all circumstances on behalf
of the Company. However, investments or disinvestments
involving sums greater than € 20 million require the authorisation of the Supervisory Board.
Since 2000 Métropole Télévision has been a limited liability
company with a Management Board and Supervisory Board.
This legal form facilitates the separation between Company
management and the supervision of that management. Over
and above the operational approach described below, this legal
form also satisfies the regulatory constraints imposed by the
agreement with the Conseil Supérieur de l’Audiovisuel (CSA),
which governs the operation and broadcasting rules of the
network.
The Supervisory Board
The Supervisory Board has twelve members, all individuals,
appointed by the Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders for a period of four years. One third of the membership is independent as required by the Bouton Report.
Compliance with the rules on multiple directorships has
been validated.
The rules of corporate governance in the Métropole Télévision Group are set down in the bylaws (articles 14-19 for the
Management Board and articles 20-25 for the Supervisory
Board).
The details below relate more specifically to forms and approaches that contribute to the effectiveness of the internal controls.
In accordance with the bylaws, the Supervisory Board meets
at least once a quarter. Meetings are called by the Chairman.
Decisions are by majority vote and are minuted. An attendance register is kept and signed by all members attending
the meeting.
Annual Report 2005
The Supervisory Board exercises ongoing control over the
management of the Company by the Management Board
and gives the latter prior authorisation for operations that
cannot be performed without such authorisation, in strict
conformity with the bylaws.
The rules for the functioning of the Supervisory Board are
contained in an internal regulation pursuant to which:
• the Audit Committee, which has three members and
meets twice a year:
- scrutinises the annual financial statements and the interim and preliminary results and examines the accounting
standards and rules used by the Group,
- considers proposals for the appointment of the statutory auditors and their remuneration and reviews their
conclusions,
• the Remuneration and Appointments Committee,
which has two members and meets once a year:
- makes proposals for the remuneration of the Supervisory and Management Boards and ensures that employees
respect the individual and collective values and rules of
conduct underlying the Group’s activities;
- ensures respect that the Supervisory Board has the
required number of independent members.
Financial accounts
In order to attain its operational and financial goals,
the Group has set up organisational and internal
control mechanisms as part of the general organisation described above.
The General Meeting of Shareholders allocated the Supervisory Board a fixed sum of € 120,000 as directors’ fees
for 2005, to be distributed among its membership and charged to the general expenses of Métropole Télévision.
The attendance rate of Supervisory Board members in 2005
was 75 %.
Legal Information
A. OVERALL ORGANISATION OF INTERNAL
CONTROL PROCEDURES
The Management Board
The Management Board is appointed for a period of five
years and has five members, all individuals, appointed by
the Supervisory Board. All are employees of the Métropole
Télévision Group aged under 65 years, heading large business units or divisions of the Group.
Compliance with the rules on multiple directorships has
been validated.
Financial Report
1.5.2. Overview of existingt
control procedurest
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220
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Financial accounts
Management Report
a-2 Key contributors to operational control
Over and above corporate governance, the Group has delegated powers of control to a number of collective bodies and
functional departments.
At Group level:
• the Executive Committee, which meets twice a month
for the purpose of identifying in advance the principal risks
arising from operations. It has twelve members, one of which
is the Management Board; others are the Group’s main
functional and operational departments, including the General Programming Secretariat and the Research, Finance,
Human Resources, Legal, Technical and Programming
Departments.;
• the Management Committee, which meets once a week
and includes the membership of the Executive Committee
and representatives of the principal subsidiaries. Its purpose
is to inform the Group about major decisions.
At subsidiary level:
• the Finance Committees of subsidiaries in which the
Group does not have a majority interest; they ensure the
Group is informed of major decisions and directions;
• weekly and monthly reports from subsidiaries in which
the Group has a majority holding, ensuring continual financial monitoring.
The Financial Department:
• co-ordinates financial operations that are of importance
to the Group,
• in consultation with the subsidiaries, manages the Group’s
cashflow and exchange risks by setting up financial indicators and hedging instruments as it considers appropriate,
• monitors the handling of direct and indirect taxation as
part of tax planning,
• in collaboration with the subsidiaries, maintains a network
of management controllers suited to the needs of the Group’s
individual business units,
• strengthens the security of accounting information and
the way it is passed up the Group for consolidation purposes.
The Legal Department:
• advises the Group and issues legal opinions as required,
• liaises with the subsidiaries and other functional departments to prepare and negotiate common legal documentation so as to construct a united approach to such documentation,
• maintains a network of lawyers to monitor and manage
the Group’s legal risks.
It has also established a procedure for the artistic validation
of programme content, ensuring it respects editorial and ethical values and current legislation. This procedure is enacted
by preparing recommendations for the attention of Programme
Management and the Management Board.
c) Preparation of financial and accounting informationt
for the attention of shareholderst
The internal control procedures relating to the preparation and
processing of financial and accounting information are substantially the responsibility of the Accounting, Consolidation,
Reporting and Management Control divisions of the Group’s
Financial Department. Most of these processes are redeployed
at Head Office and in the subsidiaries to ensure best fit with
the current modus operandi of the Group.
b) Company-internal referencet
The Company has an Ethics Charter which must be observed by all employees of the Métropole Télévision Group. It was
updated in 2000 and a copy was sent to every member of
staff. It details all the professional standards which every
employee must respect in his/her own conduct, and all the
Group’s employees, whatever their status or position in the
hierarchy – even the very highest – are expected to take it as
a guide to their actions.
The Company has also provided every department with a descriptive manual specifying the operational and administrative processes applying to all its operations of whatever nature.
The Group’s Financial Department is responsible for:
• standardising accounting rules
• standardising reporting tools (establishing parameters for,
maintaining, reporting and monitoring compliance with instructions) and ensuring flexibility and security,
• developing reporting processes to improve frequency and
relevance by including performance indicators
• bringing accounting and financial information to the attention of the Group’s Management and Supervisory Boards
and the statutory auditors
• making financial information available to the financial market and the supervisory authorities.
The Company also has a commitment control procedure
backed by a system for the delegation of signatory powers.
Annual Report 2005
b) Preparation and processing of financialt
and accounting informationt
nal and external experts, accounting data are reported from
the subsidiaries to Head Office.
a) Principal internal control procedures establishedt
by the Companyt
The Group’s internal controls for the preparation and processing of financial information comprise a number of procedures.
The Métropole Télévision Group has a system of centralised
control procedures with a high rate of hierarchical control
based on a priori control of decisions and strict monitoring of
individual objectives.
b-1 Accounting procedures
In 2005 the Group modernised its consolidation by switching
to Magnitude, a tool used by a large number of very big groups.
This switch has improved and strengthened the quality of financial information within the Group.
Annual Report 2005
Internal procedures exist to ensure a posteriori control of the
consistency of accounting entries. Reviews are conducted at
each balance-sheet date to check the work done.
The Group publishes quarterly reports on the consolidated
turnover and half-yearly reports on the results. It also issues
financial documentation annually.
b-3 Reporting procedures
Since 1 January 2005 the Group has been applying IFRS, in
preparation for which it implemented a systems migration plan
and conducted team training throughout 2004.
Particular attention was paid to comparability of information
with previous years despite the change in accounting standards.
b-2 Consolidation procedures
The Consolidation Unit, whose sole task is the consolidation
of the Group’s financial statements, is part of the Financial
Department.
Using consolidation software that is regularly updated by inter-
The Reporting Department is part of Management Control. It
gathers and analyses data on a weekly or monthly basis depending on the activity concerned.
Reporting is reviewed monthly in collaboration with operational staff. This access to the reports enables the operational
staff to monitor progress towards their objectives.
The reporting team checks that analytical entries in the management software have been made correctly and that information from operational staff has been accurately transcribed
in the accounts. At each balance sheet date the Reporting
Department performs a reconciliation with Accounting and
Consolidation.
Legal Information
The procedures, and underlying principles, within the Group
include:
• progressive establishment of a new management information system as an integrated tool for monitoring operations in the audiovisual business units. This system:
- extends to the purchase and broadcasting of programmes and
- sale of advertising slots,
- and has led to a redefinition of all Group processes to
tighten control at every stage and improve rationalisation
• establishment of a financial reporting system and procedure to cover purchasing from general expenses
• strict cashflow procedures viz.:
- centralised management of Group cashflows,
- strict separation of duties ensuring effective fraud prevention,
- regularly updated system of authorisations and signatures,
- control of computer access,
- secure payment systems.
The Consolidation Department is in regular contact with the
accounting departments in the subsidiaries, ensuring that the
same accounting standards are applied throughout the Group.
It also gathers and monitors non-accounting data included in
financial reports that are relevant to the consolidated financial statements.
These data are checked both by the Company and by the statutory auditors.
Financial Report
The Group’s operational controls involve monitoring commitments, programming, content, quantity and compliance with
regulations (CSA, CNC, etc.).
The Accounts Department gathers and records all movements
and accounting documents throughout the accounting period:
• using financial reporting systems controlled by system
administrators which ensure such systems are correctly
used and monitor changes in close collaboration with users
• using document paths which prioritise the Accounts Department
• complying with current accounting standards and Group
rules.
Financial accounts
B. SUMMARY OF INFORMATION ON
INTERNAL CONTROL PROCEDURES
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221
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Financial accounts
Management Report
222
The reports are reconciled monthly with the budget and compared with the previous year’s figures. They are also presented to the Audit Committee, the Supervisory Board and at
Finance Committee meetings.
b-4 Monitoring off-balance-sheet commitments
All commitments are subject to an authorisation procedure.
At the balance sheet date, the Financial Department obtains
the information required to report consolidated off-balancesheet commitments from all Group departments, particularly the
Audiovisual Rights Acquisition Department and the Technical
Department.
This information is centralised and checked by the Accounting
and Consolidation Departments before inclusion among the
Group’s off-balance-sheet commitments.
Finally, off-balance-sheet commitments are validated by the statutory auditors in their audit report on the financial statements.
In 2005 the Group set up an integrated tool to manage the
rights and programming portfolios of Antenne M6 and the Digital Networks, thus facilitating the monitoring of off-balancesheet commitments and stocks.
Regular physical inventories and software reviews ensure
that the operating assets exist and have been accurately
valued.
1.6. Statutory Auditor’st
reportt
b-6 Valuation procedures for subsidiaries
and investments
The Group’s most important acquisitions are subject to an
annual impairment test calculation to ensure that the financial value of the companies concerned matches their operational value.
The ‘operational value’ is the market value or the use value,
which ever is the higher. The use value is calculated using the
DCF method following the principles explained in the Group
financial statements.
The value of all the Group’s main assets was checked in course
of 2005.
Neuilly-sur-Seine, 7 March 2006
b-5 Monitoring operational assets
The Accounting Department monitors Group assets using
asset management software and a special application to
manage audiovisual rights.
The asset management software is fed and controlled by the
Accounting Department after the information has been
checked by the departments concerned (particularly the
Technical Department).
The audiovisual rights management application is run by the
Broadcasting Rights Department. At each balance sheet
date the information generated by this software is reconciled
with the accounting records.
Annual Report 2005
BARBIER FRINAULT & AUTRES
Ernst & Young
KPMG Audit
Département de KPMG S.A.
41, rue Ybry
Immeuble KPMG - 1, cours Valmy
92000 Neuilly-sur-Seine
92923 Paris la Défense Cedex
We have performed our work in accordance with acceptable professional standards in France.
These require the performance of diligence procedures to assess the fairness of information
presented in the Chairman's report, regarding internal control procedures for the preparation and
Commissaire aux Comptes
Membre de la compagnie
régionale de Versailles
Commissaire aux Comptes
Membre de la compagnie
régionale de Versailles
processing of accounting and financial information. These procedures notably consist in:
• becoming familiar with the objectives and general organisation of the internal control, as well
Management Report
223
as internal control procedures regarding the preparation and processing of accounting and
financial information, as presented in the Chairman's report;
• becoming familiar with the work from which the data and information in this report are derived.
Registered office : 89, avenue Charles de Gaulle – 92 200 Neuilly-sur-Seine
Share capital: € 52 755 476
control procedures regarding the preparation and processing of accounting and financial
information contained in the report of the Chairman of the Supervisory Board, prepared in
application of the provisions of the last section of Article L. 225-68 of the Commercial Code.
Financial year ended 31 December 2005
Paris-La Défense and Neuilly-sur-Seine, 4 April 2006
Financial accounts
On the basis of our work, we have no observations to formulate on the description of internal
Métropole Télévision S.A.t
Statutory Auditors’ report
prepared in application of Article L. 225-235 of the Commercial Code on the report
by the Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Métropole Télévision regarding
The Statutory Auditors
Legal Information
internal control procedures used in the preparation and processing of financial and
accounting information
To the shareholders of Métropole Télévision SA company,
As Statutory Auditors to your Company and in application of the provisions of Article L. 225-235
of the Commercial Code, we hereby present to you our report on the report prepared by the
Chairman of the Supervisory Board in accordance with the provisions of Article L. 225-68 of the
Commercial Code for the financial year ending 31 December 2005.
preparation and organisation of the work of the Supervisory Board and of the internal control
procedures implemented within the Company.
KPMG Audit
Département de KPMG S.A.
It is our duty to communicate any observations we may have on the information contained in the
Frédéric Quélin
Partner
report of the Chairman concerning internal control procedures regarding the preparation and
processing of accounting and financial information.
Annual Report 2005
Grégoire Menou
Partner
BARBIER FRINAULT & AUTRES
Ernst & Young
Bruno Bizet
Partner
Financial Report
It is the Chairman’s responsibility to give account, in his report, in particular on the conditions of
Management Report
224
2. General information on the Company and its share capitalt
2.1. Information on thet
Companyt
Financial Report
Legal Information
Financial accounts
2.1.1. Bylaws environnementt
The main clauses of the Company’s bylaws are as follows:
Company name
MÉTROPOLE TÉLÉVISION (M6)
Head office and registered office
89, avenue Charles de Gaulle
F-92575 Neuilly-sur-Seine Cedex
Legal form
A French-law public limited company (société anonyme) with
a Management Board and Supervisory Board governed by
the Commercial Code, the unrepealed provisions of the decree
of 23 March 1967 and subsequent texts on commercial companies.
Date of incorporation - Duration
The Company was incorporated on 13 October 1986 for a
period of 99 years unless subject to early dissolution or extension.
Trade and Commerce Register - SIRET - APE Code
The Company is entered in the Trade and Companies Register under the number:
339 012 452 (RCS Nanterre)
SIRET: 339 012 452 00084 - APE Code: 922D
Inspection of documents
Legal documents concerning the Company may be inspected at the registered office.
Financial year
From 1 January to 31 December.
Competent courts
The competent courts will be those of the Company's registered office in the event of litigation where the Company is
defendant and these courts will be designated in accordance
with the location and nature of the litigation, unless otherwise
specified by the Code of Civil Procedure.
Corporate purpose (Article 3 of the Bylaws)
The Company’s corporate purpose is as follows:
• Operation of an audiovisual communications service distributed over terrestrial, cable, satellite networks or by any
other means that may be authorised, as applicable, by the
Conseil Supérieur de l'Audiovisuel (CSA), comprising notably the conception, production, programming and broadcasting of television programmes, including all advertising;
• All industrial, commercial, financial and real estate transactions directly or indirectly connected to the above. Also
any related or complementary aims likely to further the development of the company's objectives or assets.
Statutory appropriation of profits
(Article 40 of the Bylaws)
5% of the profit of the year, as reduced by any prior year losses, shall be allocated to the legal reserve. This deduction ceases to be obligatory once the legal reserve amounts to onetenth of the share capital.
The balance, less any transfers to other reserves as required
by law, together with any profits carried forward comprise the
distributable profit.
As applicable, the following may be deducted from the distributable profit:
a) Any amounts that the General Meeting, upon the recommendation of the Management Board, decides to allocate
to any special reserves, ordinary or extraordinary, or to carry
forward.
b) Any amounts necessary to give shareholders, by way of
first dividend, 5% of the amount paid and not written down
on their shares without that, if there is an insufficient profit
in a year to effect this payment, the shareholders will have
a claim on future profits.
The balance of distributable profit, after the above deductions,
shall be split equally among all shares by way of a special dividend.
If the General Meeting decides to distribute amounts from the
reserves that are available, the decision shall expressly indicate which reserves are to be used.
In accordance with legal provisions, the General Meeting called to approve the annual financial statements may grant shareholders the option of receiving payment in cash or in shares for all or part of the dividend or interim dividend payment.
Annual Report 2005
Annual Report 2005
Requirements for holdings exceeding the
statutory threshold (Article 11 of the Bylaws)
Shares are freely negotiable. Shares are transferred by transfer from account to account subject to applicable legal and
regulatory provisions. In the event of an increase in the share
capital, shares may be traded as soon as it is completed. Any
individual or legal entity, acting alone or with others, that attains
a holding of at least 1% or any multiple of 1% of the capital
or voting rights must notify the Company of the number of
shares and/or voting rights held within a period of five stock
market trading days from the moment this threshold is exceeded, by registered letter with return receipt addressed to its
Financial accounts
Limitations on voting rights
(Article 35 of the Bylaws)
Subject to the provisions below, the voting rights conferred on
shares is proportional to the share capital they represent, and
each share carries the right to one vote.
No shareholder, or group of shareholders acting in concert,
may hold more than 34% of the total number of voting rights.
In the event that a shareholder holds, either alone or in concert
with others, over 34% of the share capital, the number of votes
available to each shareholder in Meetings is restricted to 34%
of the total number of shares in the Company and/or the attached voting rights.
This restriction ceases to have effect in the event of the elimination of the need for such a restriction, either following a
decision by the CSA or as part of a revision to the agreement
between the Company and the CSA.
registered office. The number of shares that determine the
above thresholds shall include indirectly held shares and/or
voting rights and shares and/or voting rights that are classified as held shares and voting rights as defined by Articles L.
233-7 et seq. of the Commercial Code. This declaration must
also be made each time that the fraction of share capital or
voting rights held becomes less than one of the thresholds
stated above. If not declared under the above conditions, the
shares in excess of the relevant threshold will be deprived of
voting rights under the conditions laid down by the Commercial Code relating to the crossing of statutory thresholds. Intermediaries registered as holders of shares pursuant to paragraph 3 of Article L.228-1 of the Commercial Code are required,
without prejudice to the obligations of the owners of shares,
to make the declarations stipulated in this paragraph for all of
the shares of the Company for which they are registered as
the holder.
The requirements set forth in the above paragraph shall not
limit the application of the provisions of the Law of 30 September 1986 on the free disclosure of share ownership voting
rights of companies licensed to operate an audiovisual communication service, or of any other provisions under law.
Legal Information
In accordance with French company law, shareholders meetings are announced by a preliminary notice which is published in the Bulletin des Annonces Légales Obligatoires (BALO)
at least 30 days prior to the meeting date.
The final notice of shareholders meetings is issued at least
fifteen days prior to the date set for the meeting on first call.
This time period is reduced to six days for meetings on second
call.
The final notice is sent by mail to all holders of registered shares and published in a legal gazette serving the location in
which the registered office is located and in the BALO.
The notice must set forth the date, time and place of the meeting and state the purpose and agenda for the meeting.
All of the Company's shareholders whose shares are fully paid
up may participate in meetings. No shareholder may delegate
voting authority to another person except the shareholder's
spouse or another shareholder.
In order to participate in any shareholders meeting, holders of
registered shares must have their shares entered in the Company's records at least five days before the date set for the
meeting. Holders of identifiable bearer shares must, within the
same time period, file a certificate prepared by the broker who
keeps their accounts declaring that the shares will remain unavailable for trading until the date set for the meeting.
Proxy and postal voting forms are prepared and addressed in
accordance with legislation in force.
The owners of shares referred to in paragraph 3 of Article
L.228-1 of the Commercial Code may be represented at shareholders meetings by an intermediary registered on behalf
of such owners in accordance with the provisions of the foregoing Article.
The intermediary who has fulfilled the obligations specified in
the paragraphs 3 and 4 of Article L.228-1 may, pursuant to a
general securities management mandate, transfer for a meeting its voting rights or power of attorney as an owner of shares as defined in paragraph 3 of the same Article.
Financial Report
General Meetings
(Articles 27-29 of the Bylaws)
Notice of meetings – Attendance and exercise of voting rights
Management Report
225
Financial Report
Legal Information
Financial accounts
Management Report
226
2.1.2. Legal environmentt
By virtue of its corporate purpose and status as an operator
of a free-to-air and digital television broadcasting license, the
Company is governed by a specific legal and regulatory regime
which applies in addition to the ordinary provisions.
Ownership of the share capital
Under the terms of Article 39 of Law no. 86-1067 of 30 September 1986 as amended, an individual or entity, acting alone
or with others, shall not hold, directly or indirectly, more than
49% of the capital or voting rights of a company licensed to
operate a national television service by free-to-air terrestrial
transmission.
This provision was modified by Law no. 2001-624 of 18 July
2001. This limits the scope of the 49% rule to those terrestrial channels with an average annual audience (terrestrial,
cable and satellite combined) in excess of 2.5% of the total
television audience. In practice, this clause only concerns to
new terrestrial digital networks.
Under the terms of Article 39 of Law no. 86-1067 of 30 September 1986 as amended, when an individual or entity holds,
directly or indirectly, more than 15% of the capital or voting
rights of a company licensed to operate a national television
service by free-to-air terrestrial transmission, it shall not hold,
directly or indirectly, more than 15% of the capital of another
company holding a similar authorisation.
Under the terms of Article 40 of Law no. 86-1067 of 30 September 1986 as amended, no individual or entity of foreign
nationality shall purchase an interest leading to foreign nationals holding, directly or indirectly, more than 20% of the
capital of a company licensed to operate a national television
service by free-to-air terrestrial transmission.
Broadcasting licence – Applicable legislation
M6 is a privately owned free-to-air terrestrial TV network which
was initially licensed to broadcast for a duration of ten years
from 1 March 1987 (expired on 28 February 1997) under the
licensing regime set forth by Article 30 of the amended Law
of 30 September 1986 on Freedom of Communication.
As a network which is financed exclusively by advertising, it is
subject to the general requirements of this legal classification
and to the special terms and conditions of its broadcasting
license.
M6's broadcasting license was renewed in July 1996 and July
2001 for two consecutive terms of five years from 1 March
1997 and 1 January 2002.
These broadcasting licence renewals were the subject of negotiations with the CSA in accordance with the provisions of the
Law of 30 September 1986.
On 10 June 2003, M6 received an authorisation to continue
its terrestrial digital service effective from 31 March 2005. As
a result, M6 authorisation is renewed until 28 February 2012.
The new broadcasting license sets out specific obligations for
the network.
In particular, it sets requirements to invest in the production of
audiovisual programmes:
• 18% of the previous year’s net annual turnover must be
invested in the production of French and European audiovisual programmes, of which 13.5% must be dedicated to
programmes originally produced in French.
• M6 must reserve at least two-thirds of this quota for the
production of French and European new audiovisual production.
• Of this 18% quota, M6 must reserve at least two-thirds for
programmes that are independently produced.
• M6 must broadcast 100 hours of audiovisual programmes
originally produced in France or in Europe, not previously
publicly broadcasted on a nationwide free-to-air terrestrial
TV network and with a starting broadcast time of between
8 pm and 9 pm.
• The obligations in respect of broadcasting sub-titled programmes for the deaf and hard of hearing require an increase
of 200 hours each year to reach the requirement of 1000
sub-titled programme hours in 2006. In 2005, M6 was required to produce 800 hours.
• At least 1% of the previous year's net annual turnover must
be dedicated to the production of cartoons originally produced in French or in Europe.
The network’s production obligations are further governed by
the decree dated 9 July 2001 as amended.
Under the terms of the aforementioned decree, the network
is obliged to invest 3.2% of its net annual turnover in the production of European cinema works.
The broadcasting license also determines the musical programming commitments as follows: the network must broadcast a minimum of 30% of music per 24-hour period each
year, with 50% of music broadcasts containing content originally produced in French, and must invest € 21.34 million in
music programmes and in the production and broadcast of
150 music videos dedicated to French-speaking artists, of
which 30 music videos dedicated to new talent.
The network’s music commitments may be reviewed in light
of the music offer broadcast on other free-to-air terrestrial digital networks.
Annual Report 2005
Any change to the share capital or rights conferred by shares
must be made in accordance with the provisions of the Bylaws.
Changes in the share capital since incorporation of the Company
Date
Description
09/15/86
05/16/87
05/21/90
06/21/90
12/31/93
Incorporation of the Company
Subscription
Capital reduction
Share subscription
Exercise of share options
by employees(1)
5 for 1 share split
Exercise of share options
by employees(1)
Conversion of bonds (2)
Conversion into euros
Conversion of bonds
10 for 1 share split
09/06/94
12/31/95
12/31/95
12/03/99
12/30/99
05/26/00
(1) Par value
(2) FRF 158,050,720 share premium
Annual Report 2005
Share capital increases may only be decided by shareholders
at an Extraordinary General Meeting, upon presentation of a
report of the Management Board.
Where the Company’s share capital is increased by capitalisation of reserves, profits or share issue premiums, the General Meeting must vote in accordance with quorum and majority requirements applicable to Ordinary General Meetings.
Nominal amount of
capital increase
FRF 10,000,000.00
FRF 190,000,000.00
(FRF 198,000,000.00)
FRF 200,000,000.00
Number of
shares issued
100,000
1,900,000
(1,980,000)
2,000,000
Share capital
value
FRF 10,000,000
FRF 200,000,000
FRF 2,000,000
FRF 202,000,000
Total number of shares
outstanding
100,000
2,000,000
20,000
2,020,000
FRF 6,900,000.00
-
69,000
-
FRF 208,900,000
FRF 208,900,000
2,089,000
10,445,000
FRF 4,337,000.00
FRF 50,387,700.00
€ 12,535,613.57
€ 30,536.00
-
216,850
2,519,385
7,634
-
FRF 213,237,000
FRF 263,624,700
€ 52,724,940
€ 52,755,476
-
10,661,850
13,181,235
13,181,235
13,188,869
131,888,690
Financial accounts
2.2.1. Changes in the sharet
capital and voting rightst
Legal Information
2.2. General information on the share capitalt
Financial Report
All programming content is subject to a four-category classification system which specifies the audience segment addressed by individual programmes.
The obligations relating to the broadcast quotas arise primarily from decree no. 90-66 as amended on 17 January 1990
and by the amendment no. 2 to the broadcasting license dated
22 July 2003:
• Of the audiovisual programmes broadcast over a 24-hour
period, 40% must be originally produced in French and 60%
must have been produced in Europe and the same requirements apply to peak viewing periods, set annually by the
CSA, namely between 2 pm and 11 pm on Wednesdays
and between 5 pm and 11 pm on the other days;
• As regards cinema works: M6 must not broadcast more
than 192 cinema films during the year of which a maximum
of 144 films shall begin during the prime time hours of 8.30
pm to 10.30 pm. Cinema works must comply with the broadcasting quotas throughout the day and for peak viewing
hours, i.e. 60% of broadcast material shall be of European
origin and 40% of French-speaking origin.
Concerning advertising, Law no. 93-122 of 22 January 1993
("the Sapin law") governs the relationship between advertisers, their agents and the advertising media.
Other regulations that relate to broadcasting of advertising
arise primarily from decree no. 92-280 of 27 March 1992 and
Article 73 of the Law no. 86-1067 of 30 September 1986.
Management Report
227
Paid-in capital - Number and classes of shares
At 31 December 2005, the Company’s share capital was
€ 52,755,476, represented by 131,888,690 fully paid-in shares of the same class with a par value of € 0.40 each.
Shareholders agreement
No shareholders agreement exists to the best of the Company’s knowledge.
Pledges of the issuer’s shares
Nil.
Alienation of shares in order to regularise
cross-shareholding
(Article 251 of the Decree of 23 March 1967)
Nil.
Potential share capital
The exercise of all options would lead to the creation of
3,207,100 new shares, which would increase the share capital from 131,888,690 shares at 31 December 2005 to
135,095,790 shares, a maximum potential dilution of 2.43%
Treasury shares
(Article L.233-13 of the Commercial Code)
Controlling companies holding a share in the capital of the
Company: Nil.
Notwithstanding this, only the share option plans approved at
the Board meetings of 30 June 2000 and 7 June 2001 could
have resulted in the exercise of share options in 2005.
Capital increase reserved for employees
Nil.
The most recent General Meeting to consider a proposal to
increase the share capital reserved for employees was that of
28 April 2005.
Similarly, the fact that the exercise price of options remained
below the market price of the M6 share (closing price on
31/12/2005: € 23.40) further limited the potential dilutive
effect on the share capital in 2005.
Financial Report
Legal Information
Financial accounts
Management Report
228
Annual Report 2005
Potential share capital upon exercise
of share options
Exercise price
Number of shares comprising
the share capital
Nominal value per share
Share capital
Number of shares comprising the share
capital upon exercise of options
Share capital upon exercise of
outstanding share options
Potential dilution arising from
exercise of options (% of share capital)
05/26/2000
05/26/2000
05/26/2000
05/26/2000
04/28/2004
04/28/2004
Aggregate
share option
06/30/2000
84
06/07/2001
146
06/07/2002
123
07/25/2003
119
11/14/2003
1
04/28/2004
135
06/02/2005
136
218,800
06/30/2004
06/30/2007
377,300
06/07/2005
06/07/2008
557,500
06/07/2006
06/07/2009
625,500
07/25/2007
07/25/2010
20,000
11/14/2007
11/14/2010
772,500
04/29/2006
04/28/2011
635,500
06/02/2009
06/01/2012
3,207,100
87,520
150,920
223,000
250,200
8,000
309,000
254,200
1,282,840
58.58
30.80
28.06
22.48
23.82
24.97
19.94
27.00 (1)
131,888,690
0.4
52,755,476
131,888,690 131,888,690
0.4
0.4
52,755,476
52,755,476
131,888,690
0.4
52,755,476
131,888,690
0.4
52,755,476
131,888,690
0.4
52,755,476
131,888,690
0.4
52,755,476
131,888,690
0.4
52,755,476
132,107,490
132,265,990 132,446,190
132,514,190
131,908,690
132,661,190
132,524,190
135,095,790
52,842,996
52,906,396
52,978,476
53,005,676
52,763,476
53,064,476
53,009,676
54,038,316
0.17%
0.29%
0.42%
0.47%
0.02%
0.59%
0.48%
2.43%
Financial accounts
Date of Supervisory Board meeting
granting the options
Total number of beneficiaries
Maximum number of shares which may be
delivered upon exercise of all options
Vesting date
Expiry date
05/26/2000
Legal Information
Potential share capital in €
Date of General Meeting authorising the plan
Management Report
229
Financial Report
(1) Weighted average exercise price
Annual Report 2005
Financial accounts
Management Report
230
Authorised share capital not issued: Use of
existing authorisations
(Article L.225-100 paragraph 7 of the Commercial Code)
Maximum nominal
amount of capital increases
Debt securities (not granting access to the share capital)
Capital increase by contributions in cash or contributions in kind
¤ € 50 m
(Delegation of competence to the Management Board)
(2)
Possibility of additional capital increase
(3)
Authorisation to issue shares without pre-emptive rights
but with faculty to grant priority subscription rights
(4)
Grant of free shares
(Delegation of authority to Management Board)
Share options plan
€ 1,080,000
(Delegation of authority to Management Board)
(€ 360,000 / year)
Maximum nominalvalue of
debt securities to be issued
€ 300 m
-
Term of
authorisation
5 years
26 months
Remaining
term (1)
1 year
14 months
General
Meeting
CGM 05/03/2002
CGM 04/28/2005
Resolution
n°
9
12
-
26 months
26 months
14 months
14 months
CGM 04/28/2005
CGM 04/28/2005
13
14
-
36 months
24 months
CGM 04/28/2005
11
-
3 years
1 year
CGM 04/28/2004
1
(1) With effect from the CGM (Combined General Meeting) of 24/04/06 - (2) Up to a limit of 15% of the initial issue - (3) Within the maximum limit set by the twelfth resolution of the CGM of 04/28/05 - (4) Subject to a limit
Legal Information
for the first three financial years of 0.5% of the share capital on the date at which free shares were allocated
During the year under review, the Company did not make use
of any of the above authorisations, with the exception of those
relating to the allocation of free shares (cf. point 12.6 of the
Management Board Report) and the granting of share options
(cf. point 12.5 of the Management Board Report).
Financial Report
Acquisition by the Company of its own shares:
Use of existing authorisations
Maximum nominal amount
Share repurchase programme
Reduction in capital by cancellation of Company shares
(2)
(2)
Term of authorisation
18 months
18 months
Remaining term (1)
18 months
18 months
General Meeting
CGM 04/28/2005
CGM 04/28/2005
Resolution no.
21
3
(1) With effect from the CGM of 28/04/05
(2) Within the limit of 10 % of the share capital.
Annual Report 2005
Trading in shares
Shares are freely traded on the Eurolist market of Euronext Paris.
Form of shares
Since the stock market introduction, shares are held at the
option of the holder:
• in pure registered form held in account maintained by
CACEIS,
• in administered registered form,
• in identifiable bearer form held in account by an
authorised intermediary.
Shares are approved for EUROCLEAR-SICOVAM
transactions.
a) Individual shareholders residing in France i
Taxation on dividends:
As from 2006, dividends paid by French companies to individuals residing in France are subject to the following tax
considerations:
• income tax at progressive rates up to 60% of their amount
(after application of 40% tax relief provided by Article 1583 of the French General Tax Code);
• social security contributions levied in respect of 100% of
their amount:
- an 8.2% general social security deduction (Article 16000 E of the French General Tax Code);
- a 2% social contribution deduction together with an
additional contribution of 0.3%;
- a 0.5% social welfare debt repayment deduction.
Furthermore, married couples and civil union partners
that are jointly assessed for tax are entitled to annual tax
relief of up to € 3,050 and single people, widows, divorcees and spouses filing separate income tax returns are
entitled to tax relief of up to €1,525.
Taxation on sale or disposal of shares:
Capital gains arising from the sale or disposal of Company
shares are generally taxed at a rate of 27%1 comprising:
• a 16% income tax charge (Article 200A 2e of the French
General Tax Code);
• an 8.2% general social security deduction.
b) Shareholders not residing in France i
Dividends distributed by companies whose registered offices
are located in France are subject, in principle, to a withholding
tax of 25% where the tax domicile or registered office of the
beneficiary is located outside France. The withheld tax may
be reduced, even eliminated, where applicable under international tax treaties; dividends distributed to parent companies
of countries that are members of the European Union may,
under certain conditions, be exempt.
2.2.2. Group savings plant
and profit sharingt
M6 Group savings plan
Established in September 1994 as a Fonds commun de placement (“collective investment scheme”), the M6 Group savings
plan invests exclusively in Company shares.
At 31 December 2005, the net assets of the savings plan,
which are exclusively held by Group employees, amounted to
€ 2,914 million (1,478 unit holders / unit price: € 25.25).
The fund represents 0.1% of the share capital.
Profit sharing
Two profit sharing agreements are in place: one covering the
Home Shopping division and the other covering Métropole
Télévision and its subsidiaries.
These allow for the pooling of the special profit sharing reserves of the companies within each division among eligible
(1) If the annual amount of disposals of marketable securities within the shareholder’s taxable base exceeds €15,000 from transactions
realised in 2006. Below this limit, shareholders are exempt from income tax on capital gains.
Annual Report 2005
Financial accounts
Withholding tax on dividends
• a 2% social contribution deduction together with an additional contribution of 0.3%.
• a 0.5% social welfare debt repayment deduction.
Legal Information
Rights attached to shares
All shares are of the same class and hold equal rights to the
Company’s assets and profits.
Each share confers the right to a single vote at shareholders
meetings. None of the shares entitle their holders to double
voting rights.
The right to distributed dividends and interim-dividends
lapses after five years to the benefit of the French state.
Identification of shareholders
The company is authorised to apply the provisions of French
company law at any time to identify holders of shares giving
immediate or eventual voting rights at its General Meetings.
Financial Report
During the year under review, the Company made use of the
authorisation to purchase its own shares which was granted
by the Combined General Meeting of 28 April 2005.
This authorisation was used exclusively under the liquidity
agreement, in compliance with the terms of the code of conduct
of the AFEI (French Association of Investment Firms), which
was entered into with the investment services company CA
Chevreux on 15 December 2004.
In 2005, the Company purchased 672,861 of its own shares
under this agreement at an average price of € 21.35, and
sold 716,876 shares at an average price of € 21.61, leaving
a balance at 31 December 2005 of 28,000 shares and
€ 2,467,238.10 in cash.
Management Report
231
Legal Information
Financial accounts
Management Report
232
employees. Profit sharing reserves are distributed to all eligible employees, with 30% of the amount based on hours worked during the year (3 months minimum) and 70% in proportion to their annual salary (capped at €124,272).
Purchases of shares for allocation to employees
under a profit sharing agreement
(Articles L.225-211 paragraph 2 and L.225-208 of the Commercial Code)
Nil.
Distribution of voting rights
The distribution of voting rights is identical to the distribution
of shares subject to the provisions, where applicable, of Article 35 of the Bylaws on limitations on voting rights.
No shareholders agreement exists to the best of the Company’s knowledge.
2.3. Information on subsidiaries, affiliates and controlledt
entities of the Companyt
2.3.1. Shareholders agreementt
All agreements existing between the Company and subsidiaries in which M6 does not have a controlling interest were
reviewed in the course of selecting consolidation methods
and in preparing the note on off-balance sheet commitments.
No clause in these agreements is likely to have a material
impact on the price of Company shares.
M6 and TF1 concluded a shareholders agreement stipulating that the management of TPS be undertaken by TPS Gestion as sole statutory manager.
The Board of TPS Gestion comprises eight members, of which
three are appointed by M6 and five by TF1. Decisions relating to company strategy and the achievement of financial
and operating objectives must be ratified by a qualified majority of 75% of the Board members. These decisions include,
notably, the approval of the company’s annual operating plan
Financial Report
Company
Société Nouvelle de Cinématographie
CITATO
MisterGoodDeal
LaboProduction
Date
04/28/2005
08/01/2005
11/15/2005
11/24/2005
and capital expenditure and expenses commitments in excess
of € 6 million.
The memorandum of agreement signed between TF1-M6
and Vivendi Universal does not terminate the existing shareholder agreements between the latter parties until the merger between TPS and Canal Plus Group has been approved
by the competition authorities.
2.3.2. Direct shareholding interestst
in excess of 5%, 10%, 20%, 33%t
or 50% of capital and controlling
interests (Art. L.233-6 of the
Commercial Code)
The below table summarises the information required by law:
Legal form
SAS
SARL
SA
SARL
Total
Direct
100%
25.50%
Indirect
80%
95%
74.50%*
100%
80%
95%
100%
* In November 2005, Studio 89 Productions acquired a 49% interest in Labo Production SARL, which is a 51%-owned subsidiary of M6 Group.
Annual Report 2005
Financial relations:
The cash pooling agreement with subsidiaries enables Métropole Télévision to manage and consolidate the cash resources of most Group subsidiaries. This, in turn, optimises the use
of group cash resources to the benefit of individual entities.
Effective December 2003, the shareholders in TPS (M6 and
TF1) took over from banks to provide funding required by TPS
through shareholder current accounts.
Under the terms of the cash management agreement signed
between Bayard d’Antin SA and Métropole Télévision dated
01/12/05, the Company has the faculty to centralise its cash
surpluses with Immobilière Bayard d’Antin SA, either overnight
Annual Report 2005
Métropole Télévision is the head of a tax consolidation group
pursuant to the provisions of Article 223 A of the General Tax
Code.
At 31 December 2005, the Métropole Télévision Group had
71 subsidiaries and affiliates as follows:
• 25 significant consolidated subsidiaries,
• 40 insignificant consolidated subsidiaries,
• 6 unconsolidated companies.
Financial accounts
It sets and defines the framework for oversight of the activities of Group entities as follows:
• through the strategic objectives defined for Group activities;
• through the complementary nature of its three core business lines: Free-to-air TV, Digital TV and the Diversification
ventures;
• through the existing of horizontal functional departments
(Finance, Facilities Management, Human Resources, Legal
Affairs, Information Systems, Internal Communications, etc.)
which operate as shared services within the Group. Functional responsibilities are held by specialists from each of
the business lines. The provision of these resources is formalised in Technical Assistance Agreements and is invoiced to each subsidiary.
Legal Information
Métropole Télévision engages in business activities and also
defines the strategic objectives for the Group.
or in deposit accounts with maturities of less than three months.
Remuneration under this agreement is in line with standard
market practices. In line with the investment policies of Métropole Télévision, cash invested with Immobilière Bayard d’Antin SA may not exceed 20% of the total cash at banks of the
Métropole Télévision Group.
Financial Report
2.3.3. Parent company/
Subsidiaries relationships
Management Report
233
Financial Report
Legal Information
Financial accounts
Management Report
234
Member of the Management
Board Head of Division
FREE-TO-AIR TV
Catherine Lenoble
Thomas Valentin
DIGITAL TV
Jean d’Arthuys
Financial relations with Métropole Télévision
Advances / Member of cash
Significant intercompany
guarantees pooling agreement
transactions*
Significant consolidated
subsidiaries (25)
Country
M6 Publicité
M6 Films
Métropole Production
France
France
France
yes
yes
yes
C. Productions
Studio 89 Productions
W9 Productions
France
France
France
yes
yes
yes
M6 Thématique
Extension TV - Série Club
Fun TV
Paris Première
TF6 SCS
EDI TV – W9
M6 communication
(M6 Music Black - Rock - Hit)
SediTV - Téva
France
France
France
France
France
France
yes
yes
yes
yes
DIVERSIFICATION VENTURES AND AUDIOVISUAL RIGHTS
Nicolas de Tavernost
Football Club des
Girondins de Bordeaux
Home Shopping Service
M6 Éditions
M6 Événements
Société Nouvelle de Distribution
Société Nouvelle de
Cinématographie
M6 Interactions
M6 Web
TCM Droits Audiovisuels
Mistergooddeal
TPS
% interest
(rounded up)
Impact of
minority interests
- broadcast schedule payment
N/S
- rights acquisition
- technical and support services
- rights acquisition
- rights acquisition
- rights acquisition
100 %
100 %
-
100 %
100 %
100 %
100 %
-
100 %
50 %
100 %
100 %
50 %
100 %
-
yes
N/S
N/S
N/S
N/S
N/S
N/S
France
France
yes
yes
N/S
N/S
100 %
51 %
France
France
France
France
France
yes
yes
oui
yes
oui
N/S
N/S
- advertising
N/S
- rights acquisition
99.76 %
100 %
100 %
100 %
100 %
France
France
France
France
France
France
yes
yes
yes
N/S
- advertising
- advertising
- rights acquisition
N/S
- advertising
100 %
100 %
100 %
50 %
95 %
34 %
yes
No material impact
No material impact
-
No material impact
-
* Transactions valued in excess of €500 thousand
Annual Report 2005
34 %
34 %
34 %
34 %
34 %
34 %
34 %
34 %
34 %
34 %
34 %
34 %
Insignificant consolidated
subsidiaries (36)
Culture Mag Éditions (1)
Immobilière M6 (1)
Live stage (1)
M6 Bordeaux (1)
M6 Diffusion (1)
M6 Foot (1)
M6 Création
Multiplex R4
M6 Développement
% interest
(rounded up)
90 %
100 %
99 %
100 %
100 %
100 %
100 %
58 %
100 %
HSS Sub-Group:
Boutique du Monde (2)
Club Téléachat (2)
HSS Belgique
HSS Hongrie
SETV Belgique
Tecipress (2)
Télévente promotion (2)
Unité 15 Belgique
Unité 15 France (2)
100 %
100 %
100 %
100 %
100 %
100 %
100 %
100 %
100 %
(1) Party to M6 cash pooling agreement - (2) Party to HSS / M6 cash pooling agreement - (3) TPS / M6 shareholders' current account
Non-consolidated subsidiaries (6)
Newsports
ENEX
Métropolest
PINK TV
TCM Gestion
TPS Gestion
Annual Report 2005
% interest (rounded up)
2%
20 %
50 %
9%
50 %
34 %
2.4.1. Tax informationt
€)
Financial statements at 31.12.2005
Amount (K€
Total amount of non-deductible
20.8
expenses and charges
(Article 39-4 of the French General Tax Code)
Total attendance fees excluded from
0
deductible expenses
(Article 210 sexies of the French General Tax Code)
> Remuneration and other expenses
4,557.6
paid to the highest paid employees
> Gifts and hospitality expenses
386.8
Total expenses featured in Special
Statement of general expenses (Article 223
quinquies of the French General Tax Code)
> Amount of above expenses recorded
under pre-tax profits
20.8
2.4.2 Social responsibility
information
The Company will make available to any shareholder who
requests so a copy of the Social Responsibility Report (in
French) as required by Articles L.438-1 et seq. of the Labour
Code.
Financial accounts
% interest
(rounded up)
100 %
100 %
100 %
100 %
100 %
50 %
100 %
100 %
80 %
100 %
Legal Information
Insignificant consolidated
subsidiaries (40)
M6 Numérique (1)
M6 Studio (1)
M6 Toulouse (1)
Mandarin (1)
SCI du 107 (1)
TF6 Gestion
LABO Production
M6 Opérations
CITATO
M6 Affaires
TPS Sub-Group(3)
Multivision
TPS Cinéfaz
TPS Cinéstar
TPS Cinétoile
TPS Cinéma
TPS Entreprises
TPS Foot
TPS Interactif
TPS Jeunesse
TPS Motivation
TPS Sport
TPS Terminaux
2.4. Other informationt
concerning the parent t
company statementst
Financial Report
In view of the size of their business activities, the transactions between the following companies and Métropole Télévision
are insignificant.
Management Report
235
Financial accounts
Management Report
236
3. General Meetingt
3.1. Summary and agenda of the Combinedt
General Meeting of 24 April 2006t
• Report of the Management Board
• Vote on resolutions:
• Observations of the Supervisory Board
Resolutions for the Ordinary General Meeting
• N° 1 :
Approval of the parent company financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2005
• N° 2 :
Approval of agreements covered by Article
L.225-86 of the Commercial Code
• N° 3 :
Allocation of profits and declaration of dividend
• N° 4 :
Approval of the consolidated financial statements
for the year ended 31 December 2005
• N° 5 and 6 : Ratification of the cooptation of members
of the Supervisory Board
• N° 7 :
Authorisation to be given to the Management
Board to trade in the Company’s shares
• N° 8 :
Authorisation to be given to the Management
Board to issue debt securities
• Statutory Auditors’ Reports:
- Report on the consolidated financial statements for the
year ended 31 December 2005
Legal Information
- General report on the financial statements for the year
ended 31 December 2005
- Report prepared in application of Article L.225-235 of
the Commercial Code on the report by the Chairman of
the Supervisory Board of Métropole Télévision regarding
internal control procedures used in the preparation and
processing of financial and accounting information.
Financial Report
- Special report on the agreements covered by Article
L.225-86 of the Commercial Code
- Special report on share capital reduction through the
cancellation of purchased shares
Resolutions for the Extraordinary General Meeting
• N° 9 :
Authorisation to be given to the Management
Board to reduce the share capital by cancellation
of shares
• N° 10 :
Powers to complete formalities.
Annual Report 2005
We have called you to this Ordinary General Meeting to submit the following for your approval:
• In the first resolution, shareholders are invited to approve the
financial statements and transactions for the 2005 financial
year as presented, together with the expenses and charges
stipulated in Article 39-4 of the General Tax Code.
• In the second resolution, shareholders are invited to approve
the agreements covered by Article L.225-86 of the Commercial Code as summarised in the Statutory Auditors’ Special
Report (attached to the Reference Document). Two new agreements were authorised in 2005, the first with Immobilière
Bayard d’Antin SA, concerning the acquisition of the Société
Nouvelle de Cinématographie company, and the second concerning the signature of a cash management agreement.
• In the third resolution, shareholders are invited to allocate the
profits for the year of € 166,217,030 and retained profits from
the prior year of € 429,130,207.95, representing total profits
available for distribution of € 595,347,237.99, by distributing
a dividend of € 0.95 per share and appropriating the remaining balance of € 470,052,982.49 to retained profits carried
forward.
Annual Report 2005
• In the fourth resolution, shareholders are invited to approve
the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31
December 2005 as presented.
• In the fifth and sixth resolutions, shareholders are invited to
ratify the cooptation of Ignace Van Meenen and Constantin
Lange as members of the Supervisory Board, to replace JeanCharles de Keyser and Thomas Rabe, who resigned, for the
remainder of their term, i.e. until the close of the Ordinary General Meeting to be called to approve the 2007 financial statements.
• In the seventh resolution, after considering the report of the
Management Board prepared in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 2 of Article L.225-209 of the Commercial Code, shareholders are invited to authorise the Management Board to trade in the Company’s shares under the
following conditions:
• maximum purchase price: €40
• maximum shareholding:
10% of the share capital
• maximum duration:
18 months
• Maximum nominal amount of funds to be allocated from
reserves to the share repurchase programme: € 507,786,907.
The acquisition of shares, together with their disposal, transfer or exchange, may be carried out by any means, on the
stock market or over-the-counter. Such means include trading in financial derivatives and the maximum share of the
capital that can be transferred in the form of blocks of shares may amount to the entire amount of the share repurchase programme.
• In the eighth resolution shareholders are invited to authorise
the Management Board to issue debt securities in one or more
offerings up to a total of € 300 million. Subject to shareholder approval, this authorisation will be granted for a period of
five years.
This authorisation will replace the previous authorisation granted by the General Meeting of 3 May 2002.
Resolutions presented to the Extraordinary
General Meeting
We have called you to this Extraordinary General Meeting to
submit the following for your approval:
• In the ninth resolution, subject to shareholder approval of the
share repurchase programme which is the object of the seventh
resolution, shareholders are invited to authorise the Management Board to reduce the share capital by cancelling of repurchased shares, within the limit of 10% of the share capital.
• Lastly, in the tenth resolution, shareholders are asked to
confer powers to complete formalities.
We trust that these proposals will receive your support.
Neuilly-sur-Seine, 7 March 2006
Legal Information
Resolutions presented
to the Ordinary General Meeting
These transactions may occur at any time, including in the
event of a public offer, on the terms established by current
stock market regulations.
Financial Report
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Financial accounts
3.2. Report of the Management Board to the Combined General Meetingt
Management Report
237
Legal Information
Financial accounts
Management Report
238
3.3. Observations of the Supervisory Board on the Managementt
Board Report and the 2005 financial statementst
Ladies and Gentlemen,
In accordance with Article L.225-68 of the Commercial Code,
the Supervisory Board must present to the Annual General
Meeting of shareholders its observations on the financial statements approved by the Management Board as well as on
the Management Board Report submitted to the General Meeting.
Financial Report
Cash flow from operations amounted to €324.8 million. Group
equity stood at €504.1 million.
Métropole Télévision’s parent company financial statements
reported a net profit of €166,217,030 enabling the Company
to propose a net dividend of €0.95 per share.
In addition, the Supervisory Board recognises that it has been
informed with regard to the consolidated financial statements.
We would therefore like to bring to your attention that the
financial statements and Management Board Report for the
2005 financial year were communicated to the Supervisory
Board within the time periods set by legal and regulatory provisions.
In view of this, we have no observations to make with regard
to either the management report prepared by the Management Board or the 2005 financial statements.
At its 7 March 2006 meeting, the Supervisory Board reviewed the report presented by the Management Board to the
General Meeting, as well as the 2005 financial statements, in
the presence of the Statutory Auditors.
At all times, the Supervisory Board was fully able to exercise
its mission of controlling the management of the Group by the
Management Board. The Supervisory Board was kept regularly informed by the Management Board of all important developments concerning the Group.
These financial statements had been previously approved by
the Management Board, and the Statutory Auditors had indicated they would be certified without observations.
3.4. Report of the Statutoryt
Auditorst
Neuilly-sur-Seine, 7 March 2006
M6 Group net profit increased by 21.3% to €156.2 million
and sales increased by 6.4% to €1,274.78 million. Advertising
revenues accounted for 49.1% of M6 Group sales and increased by 4% versus the prior year. M6 Group net profit on ordinary activities increased to € 244 million.
Annual Report 2005
BARBIER FRINAULT & AUTRES
Ernst & Young
KPMG Audit
Département de KPMG S.A.
41, rue Ybry
Immeuble KPMG - 1, cours Valmy
92000 Neuilly-sur-Seine
92923 Paris la Défense Cedex
Commissaire aux Comptes
Membre de la compagnie
régionale de Versailles
Commissaire aux Comptes
Membre de la compagnie
régionale de Versailles
Your Management Board proposes that you delegate to it, for a maximum period of eighteen
months, in respect of the implementation of the authorisation for your Company to purchase its
own shares, all powers to cancel the shares thus purchased, up to the limit of 10% of its share
Management Report
239
capital and by eighteen-month periods.
Financial year ended 31 December 2005
We have no comments to make on the reasons for and the terms and conditions of the
proposed capital reduction, it being noted that this cannot be carried out unless the Meeting first
of all approves the share buyback program.
Paris-La Défense and Neuilly-sur-Seine, 4 April 2006
Report of the Statutory Auditors
Financial accounts
Métropole Télévision S.A.t
Registered office : 89, avenue Charles de Gaulle – 92 200 Neuilly-sur-Seine
Share capital: € 52 755 476
on share capital reduction through the cancellation of purchased shares
The Statutory Auditors
To the shareholders of Métropole Télévision S.A. company,
Legal Information
As Statutory Auditors to Métropole Télévision and in execution of our assignment, as covered by
Article L. 225-209 paragraph 7 of the Commercial Code in the event of capital reduction arising
from the cancellation of shares purchased, we present to you our report on the reasons for and
terms and conditions of the proposed share capital reduction.
We have performed our work in accordance with applicable standards in France. These
standards require that we carry out due diligence procedures in order to verify whether the
reasons for and terms and conditions of the proposed share capital reduction are compliant.
This transaction arises from your company’s share buyback program, which allows it purchase up
Commercial Code. This purchase authorisation is also subject to approval by your General
Meeting and will be for a period of eighteen months.
KPMG Audit
Département de KPMG S.A.
Frédéric Quélin
Partner
Grégoire Menou
Partner
Annual Report 2005
BARBIER FRINAULT & AUTRES
Ernst & Young
Bruno Bizet
Partner
Financial Report
to 10% of its share capital, in accordance with the provisions of Article L. 225-209 of the
Management Report
240
3.5. Resolutionst
(Allocation of profits and declaration of dividend)
3.5.1. Presented to the Ordinary
General Meeting
Financial accounts
First Resolutiont
Legal Information
Third Resolutiont
(Approval of the parent company financial statements for the
year ended 31 December 2005)
After reviewing the Management Report prepared by the
Management Board, the Statutory Auditors’ Reports and the
observations of the Supervisory Board, the Ordinary General
Meeting hereby:
• approves the financial statements for the year ended 31
December 2005 as presented, which show a net profit of
€166,217,030;
• accordingly, approves the transactions reflected in the
financial statements and/or summarised in the reports;
• approves, in accordance with Article 223 quater of the
General Tax Code, the expenses and charges set forth in
Article 39-4 of the same code, which stand at € 20,776,
and the corresponding tax charge of € 7,257.
Net profit for the year:
Retained profits brought forward
from the prior year
Profits available for distribution
€
166,217,030.04
429,130,207.95
595,347,237.99
It is proposed:
To distribute a dividend of €0.95 per share
in respect of the 131,888,690 shares
representing the Company’s share capital
125,294,255.50
To carry forward the balance of
470,052,982.49
Pursuant to Article 158-3 of the General Tax Code, dividends
distributions will give rise to tax relief of 40% for eligible shareholders.
The dividend will be paid on 28 April 2006.
In accordance with paragraph 4 of Article L.225-210 of the
Commercial Code, dividends corresponding to M6 shares
owned by the Company at the ex-dividend date will be paid
into the retained profits account.
For reference, pursuant to Article 243 bis of the General Tax
Code, the General Meeting notes that the dividends paid over
the past three financial years were as follows and that no other
distributions were made: (refer table below)
The Ordinary General Meeting approves the allocation of profit as proposed by the Management Board and, as a result,
sets the dividend for the 2005 financial year at €0.95 per
share.
Financial year
2002
2003
2004
Dividend
per share
€¤ 0 . 5 7
€¤ 0 . 6 7
€¤ 0 .84
Dividend distributed per share
(eligible for tax relief)
N/A
N/A
€¤ 0 .84
Total distribution
(eligible for tax relief)
N/A
N/A
€¤ 1 10, 786,499.60
Financial Report
Second Resolutiont
(Statutory Auditors’ Special Report)
After hearing the Statutory Auditors’ Special Report on agreements covered by Article L.225.86 of the Commercial Code,
the Ordinary General Meeting approves the conclusions of
the aforementioned report and the new agreements referred
to therein.
Annual Report 2005
Fifth Resolutiont
(Ratification of the cooption of a member of the Supervisory
Board)
The General Meeting ratifies the cooption of Mr. Ignace Van
Meenen as member of the Supervisory Board, who was provisionally appointed by the Supervisory Board at its meeting
of 31 January 2006, to replace Mr. Jean-Charles de Keyser,
who resigned, for the remainder of Mr. Keyser's term, expiring
at the close of the Ordinary General Meeting to be called to
approve the 2007 financial statements.
Sixth Resolutiont
(Ratification of the cooption of a member of the Supervisory
Board)
The General Meeting ratifies the cooption of Mr. Constantin
Lange as member of the Supervisory Board, who was provi-
Annual Report 2005
Seventh Resolutiont
(Authorisation to be given to the Management Board to trade
in the Company's shares)
After reviewing the report of the Management Board, the
General Meeting authorises the Management Board, in accordance with the provisions of Articles L.225-209 et seq. of the
Commercial Code, to purchase, on one or more occasions, a
number of shares representing a maximum of 10% of the
share capital of the Company on the date of implementation
of the share repurchase programme.
The purpose of this authorisation is to allow the Company to
use the possibilities of trading in its own shares as provided
by law in order:
• to deliver shares on the exercise of the rights attached to
securities convertible, redeemable, exchangeable or otherwise
exercisable for Company shares, under conditions provided
by the market authorities, and also to allocate shares to
employees and executive officers of the Company and its
group, including in connection with profit-sharing plans, stock
option plans, free share allocation plans or any other methods
provided for by law;
• to manage the market making in the secondary market or
the liquidity of the Métropole Télévision share by means of an
independent financial services intermediary pursuant to a liquidity agreement compliant with the Code of ethics approved
by the AMF (Autorité des marchés financiers);
• to keep all or part of the acquired shares for subsequent
The General Meeting sets the maximum purchase price at
€ 40 per share and the number of shares purchased may not
exceed 10% of the share capital. Notwithstanding this, the
shares acquired by the Company for conservation and subsequent use as payment or collateral in any merger, demerger or contribution in kind, shall not exceed 5% of the share
capital. This percentage shall apply to the share capital of the
Company as adjusted to take account of any capital transactions carried out after this General Meeting. The maximum
aggregate amount of funds that the Company may allocate
to the share repurchase programme is set at € 507,786,907.
In the event of an increase in capital by capitalisation of reserves, the allocation of free shares or a division or consolidation
of shares, the prices indicated above will be adjusted by a factor equal to the ratio between the number of shares comprising the share capital before and after the transaction.
The General Meeting decides that this authorisation may be
used during a public offer to purchase and/or exchange shares and to guarantee the share price, within the limits and
conditions set by stock exchange regulations.
This authorisation is granted for a period that ends at the next
Annual General Meeting called to approve the financial statements without exceeding a maximum period of eighteen
months.
The General Meeting confers full powers on the Management
Financial accounts
After hearing the report of the Management Board, the observations of the Supervisory Board and the Statutory Auditors’
report on the consolidated financial statements, the Ordinary
General Meeting approves the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2005 as prepared
and presented in accordance with the provisions of Articles
L.233-16 et seq. of the Commercial Code and which show a
net profit of €156.2 million.
exchange or payment as part of possible external growth transactions;
• to cancel shares, subject to approval of the ninth resolution
by the Combined General Meeting of shareholders.
The acquisition of these shares may be carried out by any
means, in particular over-the-counter and block purchases of
shares or by use of financial derivatives. Furthermore, at the
discretion of the Management Board, the repurchased shares may be sold or transferred by any means and at any time.
Legal Information
(Approval of the consolidated financial statements for the year
ended 31 December 2005)
sionally appointed by the Supervisory Board at its meeting of
7 March 2006, to replace Mr. Thomas Rabe, who resigned,
for the remainder of Mr. Rabe’s term, expiring at the close of
the Ordinary General Meeting to be called to approve the 2007
financial statements.
Financial Report
Fourth Resolutiont
Management Report
241
Management Report
242
Board, with the faculty of delegation, to place market orders,
enter into any agreements, draw up documents, in particular
information disclosures, perform all formalities, to file returns
with all appropriate bodies or entities and generally do all that
is necessary in this respect.
This authorisation is granted for a period of five years.
Legal Information
Financial accounts
Eighth Resolutiont
Financial Report
The Management Board may delegate the above powers to
its Chairman or any member of the Management Board on
condition that such person shall report on the powers thus
exercised by him.
(Authorisation to be given to the Management Board to issue
debt securities)
After hearing the report of the Management Board, the General Meeting authorises the Management Board, at its sole discretion, in one or more offerings in France and/or abroad, to
issue subordinated or non-subordinated debt securities with
fixed or indefinite maturities or bonds redeemable in shares,
either denominated in euros or foreign currencies, or in any
other monetary unit established by reference to a basket of
currencies, the debt securities where necessary being sold
with bonds redeemable in shares of the same class, up to a
maximum nominal amount of three hundred million euros
(€ 300,000,000), or its equivalent in any other currency, with
or without guarantee of any kind whatever, in the proportions,
forms and at the times, rates and conditions for issue that it
considers appropriate, it being specified that this maximum
nominal amount shall apply globally to the bonds issued directly
or following exercise of bonds redeemable in shares.
The General Meeting confers full powers on the Management
Board to carry out these issues and to determine the characteristics of the debt securities or bonds redeemable in shares, which may include a floating interest rate and a redemption premium, above par, fixed or variable, the said premium
being added to the aforementioned maximum nominal amount
of € 300,000,000.
3.5.2. Presented to the
Extraordinary General Meeting
Tenth Resolutiont
(Powers to complete formalities)
The Combined General Meeting confers full powers on a bearer of copies or certified extracts of the minutes of this Meeting to make all filings and advertising and to carry out any
other legal and administrative formalities as required, in accordance with the law
Ninth Resolutiont
(Authorisation to be given to the Management Board to reduce
the share capital by cancellation of shares)
After reviewing the report of the Management Board and the
report of the Statutory Auditors, and subject to shareholder
approval of the seventh resolution, the Extraordinary General
Meeting authorises the Management Board to reduce the
share capital by cancelling any or all of the Company shares
acquired in the framework of the share repurchase programme
authorised by the voting of the foregoing seventh resolution,
within the limit of 10% of the share capital.
The Extraordinary General Meeting confers full powers to the
Management Board to amend the Bylaws to reflect the exercise of this authorisation, to make all disclosures and publications and to carry out all necessary formalities.
This authorisation shall expire at the close of the General Meeting called to approve the 2006 financial statements.
Annual Report 2005
Persons responsible for financial information
Documents incorporated by reference
Having taken all reasonable care to ensure that such is the
case, we attest that the information contained in this Reference Document is, to the best of our knowledge, in accordance with the facts and contains no omission likely to affect
its import.
Jérôme Lefébure
Chief Financial Officer
Tel : 01 41 92 64 30
Fax : 01 41 92 64 59
E-mail : jlefebure@m6.fr
This Reference Document includes:
We have received an audit completion letter from the statutory auditors, in which they state that they have verified the
information regarding the financial situation and financial statements presented in this Reference Document and have read
the entire Reference Document.
Jean-Marc Duplaix
Deputy Chief Financial Officer
Tel : 01 41 92 57 94
Fax : 01 41 92 64 59
E-mail : jmduplaix@m6.fr
Neuilly-sur-Seine, 4 April 2006
- the consolidated and parent company financial statements
for the 2004 financial year prepared in accordance with French
accounting standards, together with the corresponding report
of the statutory auditors, featured on pages 106 to 133 and
134 to 154 of the Reference Document filed with the Autorité des Marchés on 14 April 2005 under the number D.050428.
Financial Report
Legal Information
Nicolas de Tavernost
Chairman of the Management Board
- the consolidated and parent company financial statements
for the 2003 financial year prepared in accordance with French
accounting standards, together with the corresponding report
of the statutory auditors, featured on pages 32 to 55 and 56
to 72 of the Reference Document filed with the Autorité des
Marchés Financiers on 14 April 2004 under the number D.040479.
Financial accounts
Person responsible for the Reference Document
Management Report
243
Annual Report 2005
Financial Report
Informations juridiques
Financial accounts
Management Report
244
AMF Reference document table of contentst
1. PERSONS RESPONSIBLE
Certification by persons responsible for the reference document . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
2. STATUTORY AUDITORS
Certification by the statutory auditors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178-179, 200-202, 216
3. SELECTED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
3.1. Background information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-9, 72-122, 124-202
3.2. Provisional information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N/A
4. RISK FACTORS
4.1. Risk factors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
- Market risks (liquidity, interest rates, exchange rates, share portfolio) . . . . . . . . . . . . 111-113
- Specific risks linked to the business activity (including dependence
on suppliers, clients, sub-contractors, contracts, manufacturing processes, etc.) . . . . . . . . 111
- Legal risks (specific regulations, franchises, patents, licences, significant
disputes, exceptional events, etc.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113-114, 119
- Industrial risks and risks linked to the environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114-115
4.2. Insurance and risk coverage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115-116
7 .ORGANISATION CHART
Organisation of the Group (parent company-subsidiary relations, information
on the subsidiaries) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74, 110, 233-235
8. OWNERSHIP OF REAL ESTATE, FACTORIES AND FACILITIES
8.1. Major existing or planned tangible fixed assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N/A
8.2. Environmental issues that may influence the use of the tangible fixed assets. . . . . . . . N/A
9. ANALYSIS OF THE FINANCIAL SITUATION AND RESULTS
9.1. Financial situation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72-202
9.2. Operating income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72-202
10. CASH POSITION AND CAPITAL
10.1. Issuer’s capital (short- and long-term). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93-94, 124-125, 128, 162
10.2. Source and amount of cash flows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94, 127, 183
10.3. Borrowing conditions and financing structures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93-95, 163
10.4. Information concerning any restriction on the use of capital that has or may
have a material impact, either directly or indirectly, on Group transactions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N/A
10.5. Expected sources of financing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N/A
5. INFORMATION CONCERNING THE ISSUER
5.1.Company background and development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5, 224
5.2. Investments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
11. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, PATENTS AND LICENCES. . . . . . . . . . . 95
6. OVERVIEW OF BUSINESS ACTIVITIES
6.1. Main activities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-71
6.2. Main markets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-15, 44-47, 59, 62-63, 65, 67
6.3. Exceptional events. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N/A
6.4. Possible dependence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
6.5. Information used as the basis for issuer for all declarations by the issuer
concerning its position from a competition law standpoint . . . 12-15, 44-47, 59, 62-63, 65-67
13. PROFIT FORECASTS OR ESTIMATES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N/A
12. INFORMATION ON TRENDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
14. GOVERNING, MANAGEMENT, SUPERVISORY
AND EXECUTIVE BODIES
14.1. Composition of governing, management and supervisory bodies.
Composition of committees.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204, 206-213, 215-216
14.2. Conflicts of interests at the level of governing, management,
supervisory and executive bodies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Annual Report 2005
17. EMPLOYEES
17.1. Headcount at the end of the period. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
17.2. Shareholdings and stock options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103-105, 117, 158
17.3. Employee shareholding in the capital. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
18. MAIN SHAREHOLDERS
18.1. Shareholders that hold more than 5% of the share capital or voting rights . . . . . . . . . 109
18.2. Existence of different voting rights.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109, 225
18.3. Control of the issuer.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
18.4. Agreements that are known to the issuer, the implementation of which could,
at a later date lead to a change of control of the issuer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N/A
21. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
21.1. Share capital . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227-232
21.2. Deed of incorporation and bylaws . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224-225
22. MAJOR CONTRACTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
23. INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THIRD PARTIES, DECLARATIONS BY
EXPERTS AND DECLARATIONS OF INTERESTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N/A
24. DOCUMENTS ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Financial accounts
16. OPERATING OF GOVERNING AND MANAGEMENT BODIES
16.1. Expiration dates for the current terms of office of the members of the governing,
management and supervisory bodies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204, 206, 216
16.2. Service agreements with the members of the governing, management
and supervisory bodies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
16.3. Information on the audit and remuneration committees. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215-216
16.4. Corporate governance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204-223
20. FINANCIAL INFORMATION CONCERNING THE ISSUER’S ASSETS
AND LIABILITIES, FINANCIAL SITUATION AND PROFIT
20.1. Background financial information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123-199
20.2. Pro forma financial information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N/A
20.3. Financial statements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123-199
20.4. Verification of the background annual financial information. . . . . . . . . . 178-179, 200-202
20.5. Date of the last financial information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
20.6. Interim and other financial information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N/A
20.7. Dividend distribution policy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108, 197
20.8. Legal and arbitration proceedings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
20.9. Significant change in the financial or commercial situation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N/A
Informations juridiques
15. REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS
15.1. Amount of remuneration paid and benefits in kind granted by the Group and its
subsidiaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
15.2. Total amount of provisions set aside or amounts booked for the purposes of paying
pensions, annuities or other benefits. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107, 159
Management Report
245
25. INFORMATION ON SHAREHOLDINGS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157, 198
The present document has been filed with the Autorité des Marchés Financiers on April 5, 2006
pursuant Article 212-3 of the general regulations of AMF. It can be used for the purpose of a financial operation,
if accompanied by a specific note approved by AMF.
Annual Report 2005
This version replaces the initial version which was deposited and put online on April 5th 2006, and contains
the correction of the following typographic erratum : Page 15, graph on Advertising market shares distribution in 2005 :
France 5’s market share is 1.1%
Financial Report
19. TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATED ENTITIES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110, 166, 223
246
Credits
Editorial :
Communication Department
Creation and Production :
Erwann Kervadec Design
Photo credits :
• M6 : Christophe Geral/Pascalito/
Pierre Olivier/Jacques Morell/Eric
Fougère/Franck Camhi/Stéphane
Masson/Pierre Guibert
• A la vie production : Bernard Fau
• Girondins de Bordeaux : Dominique
Lelann • Olympique de Marseille :
Meryl diffusion • M6 Mobile • Visual
Press Agency • Paramount
International television • TFM
distribution • 2002 Lucasfilm Ltd. All
rights reserved. Digital work by ILM
• Paris Première : François Darmigny
• The Twentieth Century Fox
International • Teva : Mathilde L’Ecotay
• TF6 : Philippe Kerlo • Dreamworks
• M6 Interaction • SND • TPS • DR
Annual Report 2005
Métropole Télévision
Société anonyme à Directoire
et Conseil de Surveillance
au capital de 52 755 476 €
89, avenue Charles de Gaulle,
92575 Neuilly-sur-Seine cedex
Téléphone : 01 41 92 66 66
Télécopieur : 01 41 92 66 10
Internet : http://www.m6.fr